By Nodley Wright,
Staff Reporter
Davis
ARNETT GARDENS yesterday ended a 24-year barren run in their hunt for a national football title by taking the Craven A National Premier League (NPL) crown with a 4-2 aggregate win over Waterhouse at the National Stadium.
Fabian Davis in the 24th minute and Gerald Neil in the 83rd scored for Arnett Gardens while Irvino English netted from the penalty spot for his team in the 52nd minute. Arnett Gardens won the first leg 2-1 in midweek.
"I feel good about it and and I would like to thank all those who made it possible - George Phang, Patrick Roberts, Omar Davies and all the people of the community who supported the team," said winning coach Jerome Waite.
"This is one win that was not easy, especially to get the players in the frame of mind for this game," he continued. "I have to give them credit."
Losing coach Kenneth 'Bop' Campbell was gracious in defeat.
"I must say congrats to Arnett Gardens. First of all as they beat us twice in the finals. They waited a long time for this and congratulations to them," said Campbell.
Campbell said Arnett Gardens won the game because they converted their chances.
"I felt though that if we had put away our early chances - especially the one from our captain Irvino English ... which I believe was an empty goal, then it could have changed the complexion of the game.
"In football it is the chances that you take that matter. Arnett Gardens had two chances and they took them. Big up to them."
Showing their intentions early, Waterhouse took the attack to the Arnett Gardens team who had a more cautious approach to the game. Waterhouse controlled the first 15 minutes of the game and had two chances to score from captain English.
The first presented itself in the 13th minute when the Arnett Gardens defence went to sleep and allowed English to sneak in and fire a shot just wide of goal. Two minutes later, English had another opportunity which he headed on to the right upright with the defence stranded and goalkeeper Selvin Collins beaten.
Waterhouse would rue those misses. Gradually, Arnett Gardens took the initiative in a competitive and attractive game. Once they took the lead in the 24th minute from man of the match Davis, it was all uphill for Waterhouse as the aggregate read 3-1 to Arnett.
Davis chested down a headed clearance from the impressive schoolboy Alroy Nicholson and fired a right-footer home from about 22-yards. From then on Waterhouse began to fade but still Damion Powell managed to create a chance for Kevin Lamey in the 36th minute he was however robbed by an acrobatic Collins.
Just six minutes into the second half, English handed his team a lifeline when opposing captain Eugene Barnes handled the ball in the area. Two minutes later a Powell freekick was not held on to by Collins which gifted Lamey a chance at the rebound. He collided with Collins and Tafari O'Connor lobbed his effort high.
Waterhouse had a brief period of dominance before the game swung back Arnett Gardens' way. This was almost capped by a well-struck shot from Kevin Wilson on the edge of the 18-yard box as he was fed a through ball by Cornel Chin-Sue in the 80th minute.
Three minutes later it was all over as Neil collected a return pass from Wilson and blasted past Loxley Reid at his near post off the left upright. This sent the Arnett Gardens supporters into a frenzy as they threw beer cans and bottles of liquid into the air.
