By Ainsley Walters, Staff Reporter ARNETT GARDENS won the match-up of last year's league champions, rallying from a goal down to spank promoted visitors Rivoli 3-1.
However, Hazard United weren't as fortunate. The Premier League runners-up were stunned 2-1 at home by newcomers Bull Bay in yesterday's Wray and Nephew Premier League which kicked off with a flood of goals.
Denton Shedden, Kevin Wilson and Kwame Richardson mopped up for defending champions Arnett after Rae Graham had given Rivoli the perfect start to the league.
In other games around the Corporate Area, coach Geoffrey Maxwell made a winning start in charge of Tivoli, leading the Railway Oval side to a 2-1 home win against Constant Spring. Waterhouse, meanwhile, relished their new Emmett Park homeground, stomping deflated Wadadah 5-1.
League champions Arnett were rocked in the 22nd minute when Graham sent Rivoli ahead 1-0. The former national player stunned the partisan crowd at the Tony Spaulding Sports Complex, getting between goalie Julian Mcleish and Oneil Dunn's back-header inside the six-yard box.
Graham, however, was both hero and villain for the A League champions. A boot left hanging eight minutes later in a challenge with defender Alex Thomas sent him packing, shown red by referee Victor Stewart.
Arnett didn't have to wait long for the equaliser. Just about six minutes after Graham's ejection, Jonathan Williams dribbled down the right into Rivoli's box and crossed for Shedden rushing in. The veteran player's sliding shot from near eight yards sailed over Allien Whittaker in goal.
Undermanned, Rivoli drew all but forward Marvin Henry behind the ball in the second half, playing right nto attacking Arnett's hands.
The Premier League champions were all over their 'A' League counterparts but had to wait till midway through the half to go 2-1 up when Wilson made up for hitting the post five minutes after the resumption.
Running on to a smart return pass from Cornel Chin-Sue, Wilson rifled in a fierce 70th-minute grounder from close range, beating Whittaker who got a desperate hand to the ball but could not keep out the shot.
Williams set up substitute Richardson's 83rd-minute goal, chasing a rebound to the left corner flag and hoisting a square to the back post for the former Charlie Smith star to head in unmarked.
Coach Jerome Waite said Arnett realised they had to pick up the pace in the second-half after going in at 1-1.
Harold Thomas bemoaned Graham's ejection.
"It came early," he said. "It really put a damper on our plans. Whenever you play a team like Arnett it's difficult with 10."
At Ferdie Neita Park, giant-killing Bull Bay made a dream start to the big time, cutting down Hazard off Shawn Henry's winner three minutes from time after Andrew Morrison cancelled Raphael Bellinfante's first-half strike.
At Railway Oval, Steve Green (21st) and Raymond Smith (47th) made sure Tivoli got off on the right note. Greg Gardner left it late to pull one back in two minutes from time for Constant Spring.
Andrew Mais hit two on his debut for Waterhouse, leading the Drewsland men to a romp over Wadadah. Kirk Campbell, Damion Powell and Irvino English were the other scorers.
down the right into Rivoli's box and crossed for Shedden rushing in. The veteran player's sliding shot from near eight yards sailed over Allien Whittaker in goal.
Undermanned, Rivoli drew all but forward Marvin Henry behind the ball in the second half, playing right nto attacking Arnett's hands.
The Premier League champions were all over their 'A' League counterparts but had to wait till midway through the half to go 2-1 up when Wilson made up for hitting the post five minutes after the resumption.
Running on to a smart return pass from Cornel Chin-Sue, Wilson rifled in a fierce 70th-minute grounder from close range, beating Whittaker who got a desperate hand to the ball but could not keep out the shot.
Williams set up substitute Richardson's 83rd-minute goal, chasing a rebound to the left corner flag and hoisting a square to the back post for the former Charlie Smith star to head in unmarked.
Coach Jerome Waite said Arnett realised they had to pick up the pace in the second-half after going in at 1-1.
Harold Thomas bemoaned Graham's ejection.
"It came early," he said. "It really put a damper on our plans. Whenever you play a team like Arnett it's difficult with 10."
At Ferdie Neita Park, giant-killing Bull Bay made a dream start to the big time, cutting down Hazard off Shawn Henry's winner three minutes from time after Andrew Morrison cancelled Raphael Bellinfante's first-half strike.
At Railway Oval, Steve Green (21st) and Raymond Smith (47th) made sure Tivoli got off on the right note. Greg Gardner left it late to pull one back in two minutes from time for Constant Spring.
Andrew Mais hit two on his debut for Waterhouse, leading the Drewsland men to a romp over Wadadah. Kirk Campbell, Damion Powell and Irvino English were the other scorers.
Arnett Gardens 3 Rivoli 1
Waterhouse 5 Wadadah 1
Hazard United 1 Bull Bay 2
Tivoli 2 Constant Spring 1
Village 2 Reno 0
Harbour View 1 Seba 0
