MONTEGO BAY were confounded in their push for a spot in the Second End-of-Round Final after they were beaten 1-0 by Arnett Gardens in their Red Stripe Premier League football game at the Tony Spaulding Sports Complex on Sunday.

The win took Arnett Gardens to the top of the second round on 18 points, same as their western opponents in Sunday's showdown. Overall, Montego Bay slipped a spot, to fourth, with 34 points and were overtaken by the "Junglists" into third spot on 35 points.

Arnett Gardens went ahead in the 40th minute through a Kirk Ramsey strike from 23 yards, sending the crowd into a frenzy. That goal has propelled Ramsey into sole leadership for the golden boot title with nine goals.

The green-and-blue-clad Montego Bay gave the home team a scare in the 30th minute when Dino Williams tried to edge a ball past goalkeeper Damion Hyatt after a scramble in the area. Williams' ball, however, went wide of the right post and spared the hosts blushes.

In the second half, Arnett Gardens core started to crumble slightly as the MoBay outfit put on the pressure.

Kemal Malcolm made an attempt to put the team 2-0 up in the 84th with a left-sided shot from the corner, but his shot was too hard as it flew wide and off-target.

Calvin Lewis said keeping a clean sheet was important for his team, which they managed to do.

"The important thing today (Sunday) is how we defended. We have been working on that to say we need to be consistent in terms of keeping a clean sheet for the rest of the season. We need to defend well and we did that. I think the back line played well."

He made special mention of National Under-20 captain, Shawn Lawes, who was key in defence. "His first game since I'm here and he displayed good leadership at the back of the pack."

Montego Bay's coach Dr Dean Weatherly suggested that the home side wanted the victory more on the night.

"In games like these the chances are far and few, and when you do create them you have to make use of them. And tonight we saw where Arnett Gardens came out with a better spirit than us, and the one chance that they got really they made use of it," he said.

"We created a number of chances, did not finish, and in doing that we paid the price."

Teams: Arnett Gardens -- Damion Hyatt, Desmond Breakenridge, Anthowe Dawkins, Shawn Lawes, Jason Moore, Richard Oldham, Leon Strickland, Fabian Reid (Lamar Nelson 60th), Ricardo Smith, Kirk Ramsey (Kemal Malcolm 60th), Elton Thompson

Subs not used: Julian McLeish, Newton Sterling, Rohan Reid, Richard Williams, Jabeur Johnson

Booked: Moore (34th)

Montego Bay United -- Jacomeno Barrett, Orlando McBayne, Cordel Simpson, Ladale Richie, Keneil Kirlew (Omar Gordon 69th), Dwayne Ambusley, Leon Irving (Kemiro James 67th), Lesly St Fleur, Jermaine Woozencroft (Graeme Green 24th), Dino Williams, Allan Ottey

Subs not used: Garen Downie, John Barrett, Brian Brown, Winston Wilkinson,

Booked: Ambusley (16th), Richie (39th)

Referee: Cordella Samuels

Assistant Referees: Lloyd Reader, Stacy-Ann Greyson

Fourth Official: Wilverglen Lamey

Match Commissary: Ainsley Sharpe