Red Brigade steal march on Arnett

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Boys' Town continued to make considerable stride in the Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) after Michael Campbell's sixth-minute strike propelled them to a 1-0 win over neighbours Arnett Gardens at Tony Spaulding Complex on Monday night.

The win helped Andrew Price's side, which was without three of its regular starters due to national duties, rejoin third-placed Tivoli on 42 points, while Arnett, who have not won a game in six outings, remain eighth with 31.

Price said although Oneil Thompson, Renae Lloyd and Xavian Virgo were not available, the replacements played a spirited game and he was pleased to picked up 13 points from their last five matches.

"The players on the bench doubled up and gave a spirited performance... it's all about accumulating points and they understood.

"But coming after the deflation of losing the Jackie Bell KO... we came back... and it was not about revenge... it was about getting points," he said.

In an almost capacity venue, the visitors silenced the home crowd when they stole possession on the counter and Campbell beat goalie Damion Hyatt with a low strike from Jermaine Allen's cross to give Boys' Town the early lead.

For the rest of the half both teams played an intense, high-tempo game, with the best chance falling to Newton Sterling towards the end of the period, but he could not decide whether to use his head or foot and the ball hit him and went into touch.

Boys' Town, led by Daemeon Benjamin, continued to stifle the Arnett attack in the second half and it was not until the introduction of Ricardo Stern and Marcelino Blackburn — who was making his debut for his home club this season — that Arnett came alive.

The substitutions almost paid dividends as Arnett forced their opponents onto the defensive and five minutes later, Blackburn broke away inside the area and fired a shot on target, which got caught in a maze of defenders before being cleared.

It took veteran midfielder Benjamin to break the momentum when he stole possession in the middle of the park, raced forward and fired just wide from outside the box.

Boys' Town slowly regained a foothold on the midfield and created some good chances, most of which went woefully high.

However, they came close to adding to their tally in the 73rd when Hyatt spilled a ball at the feet at Joel Williams, but the latter could not find the net from a difficult angle.

Arnett continued to seek the equaliser and forced the visitors to do some desperate defending. Five minutes from the end, Jason Moore was played through, but he hesitated and was dispossessed.

Central defender Nicholas McMorris also got a great chance to put the game beyond Arnett's reach in time added, but Hyatt parried his well-placed effort for a corner.