Heat still on Arnett

Anthony Minott, Gleaner Writer

Arnett Gardens had to pull out all the stops to earn a hard-fought 1-1 draw with a youthful Sporting Central Academy outfit, but still found themselves in last place, after a third-round Digicel Premier League match at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex on Wednesday.

The point still did not prevent Arnett Gardens from clinging to the bottom of the table with 23 points.

Arnett are a point below Portmore United (24), who drew 0-0 with Humble Lions, and two points adrift of August Town (25), who went down 1-0 to second-place Tivoli Gardens. Village United (26) left the relegation zone with a shocking 3-0 triumph over Waterhouse at the Elliston Wakeland field.

Wayne Fairclough, coach of Arnett Gardens, praised his team.

"Getting a point is good for us today. We are at the end of the table, no one wants to be in last position in a 12-team competition, but I thought drawing here tonight is not what we wanted, but then again a point is better than none."

Took the lead

Sporting Central took the lead in the eighth minute through Kadian Wynter. Later, Alanzo Adlam missed a penalty in the 53rd minute which could have given his team a comfortable 2-0 lead. Adlam's kick from the spot went straight to Arnett custodian, Julian McLeish, who saved the weak effort. The introduction of striker Leon Strickland, Fabian Davis and Cornel Chinsue, between the 60th and 66th minutes, put a punch in the Arnett attack, which led to the home team's goal.

Lennox Creary equalised for Arnett Gardens in the 78th minute whenhe scored from a rebound. Towering forward, Newton Ster-ling, hit a powerful shot that Sporting's custodian André Blake parried into the path of Creary, who made no mistake from close range.

Nigel Stewart, assistant coach of Sporting Central, said he was somewhat disappointed.

"We lost two points from the contest, we got a penalty and we did not score and we got numerous other chances, but that is football, they are learning and they will get better," he said.