Howard Walker, Staff Reporter
STEWART... scored a stunner agiainst Arnet Gardens on Sunday night. - IAN ALLEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
DONALD 'FOWLIE' Stewart might not have scored many goals in his career, but when he does get them it's a beauty to behold.
The imposing figure at the heart of Harbour View's midfield scored a scorcher from 35 yards that whistled past Arnett Gardens goalkeeper, Julian McLeish, before he knew it in their Wray & Nephew National Premier League match at Compound on Sunday night.
Stewart, who hadn't scored for the club in awhile, picked up a ball well outside of the 18-yard box and with his left foot, fired a scud missile-like shot that flew past McLeish and nestled into the roof of the net.
It was a killer strike in the 77th minute that effectively hit the wind out of Arnett Gardens, sending the runaway leaders into a 2-0 lead, well on their way to an impressive 3-0 win.
The Stars of the East, courtesy of a Luton Shelton penalty in the 63rd minute and a clinical Richard West finish in the 90th minute, complimented Stewart's stunner in leading Harbour View to an emphatic victory.
STRANGLEHOLD
The now maintain a stranglehold on the Wray and Nephew National Premier League (NPL) with 42 points, 11 more than Waterhouse on 31 with Tivoli Gardens and Portmore United next in line on 26 points each.
Arnett Gardens, the first End-of-Round Final winner, continued their miserable run, gaining only one point from their last three games to be in sixth position on 22 points.
The industrous and hard-tackling Stewart, said his fabulous strike was the end result of hard work during training.
"They always curse me saying I won't get them. One out of 10, but this is the one. It's just the moment, I can't say anything else. It's just the right execution," said Stewart of his fine finish.
Donovan Hayles, coach of Harbour View, said he could only describe Stewart's goal as miracle.
"I don't know Donald to score those goals. Nevertheless, I won't take anything from him. But Donald has tried these things in training and tonight it came off. It's a miracle strike," said Hayles.
SOLID FOOTBALL
"It was 90 minutes of solid football. We totally dominated this game from the first half. The finishing wasn't there in the first half, but in the second half we finished what we started," noted Hayles.
Meanwhile, what had started out as a promising season for Arnett Gardens is quickly turning into a disaster.
They are now 20 points behind Harbour View and Micahel Tulloch, coach of the Junglists, have basically given up on capturing the title.
"It's a tall order from this point. But we want to maintain our competitive edge and finish as close as possible to the top," he said.
Tulloch, a feared striker in his time when leading the charge of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), said he has once again been let down by poor finishing.
"Basically our finishing has let us down all season. We continue to create chances but don't score, and as soon as the opponents score we lose concentration.
"It a mentality thing and that's what we have to work on from now," said Tulloch.
Chat online with Harbour View
Representatives of Harbour View Football Club, the present runaway leaders in the 2005/06 Wray & Nephew National Premier League (NPL), will be on The Gleaner's Go-Jamaica.com today at 1:00 p.m. for a lunchtime chat online.
The members, including the club's general manager, Clyde Jureidini, coach Donavon 'DV' Hayles and captain Lovel Palmer, will kick off the first in a series of chats among the NPL fraternity.
This will give the visitors to the chatroom an opportunity to ask burning questions, greet and see the representatives via webcam.
The Stars Of the East are firm favourites to lift the Wray and Nephew Trophy under the new league format, currentl sitting atop the table on 42 points from 16 matches, 11 clear of second place Waterhouse.
