Arnett Gardens rallied to earn a 1-1 draw against Sporting Central Academy in their Digicel Premier League encounter at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex yesterday.

National Under-20 midfielder Kaydian Wynter stunned the home fans in the sixth minute by converting after a mix-up in the Arnett defence.

Former Calabar High Manning Cupper Lennox Creary levelled for Arnett in the 78th after goalkeeper Andre Blake blocked Newton Sterling’s 35-metre free kick into his path.

Another National player Alonzo Adlam saw his feeble penalty kick easily saved by veteran goalkeeper Julian McLeish in the 52nd.

Had Adlam converted, it would have put Sporting 2-0 up and knocked the wind out of Arnett.

Clarendon-based Sporting, with their 11th drawn game from 25 outings, inched their way to 29 points and remain in sixth spot.

Arnett Gardens, winless in their last 11 games, stayed bottom of the league on 23 points, but luckily for them, only six points separate the teams occupying sixth to 12th.

In front of a relatively small crowd, the teams started with relatively young teams.

The Clarendon outfit opted for 10 players from their U-21 team, with Marlon Allen being the exception.

New Arnett coach Wayne Fairclough had veterans Fabian Davis, Cornel ChinSue, Oneil Robinson and Leon Strickland on the bench and struggled badly.

Adlam, Levaughn Williams, Kaydian Wynter, Damarley Samuels, Jermaine Christian, Keithy Simpson and Jamoly Powell gave Sporting the advantage and a half-time lead.

They should have gone further ahead following a brilliant build-up involving Williams, who passed to Adlam. The latter’s delicate backheel found Samuels, who again released Williams down the right flank and his cross was heading for an unmarked Samuels, who was held back by a defender.

Referee Raymond Bogle did not hesitate in pointing to the spot, but Adlam’s effort was well held by McLeish.

That was the turning point as coach Fairclough brought on former coach Davis, ChinSue and Strickland, and they turned the game around.

Arnett had more possession and deservedly found the equaliser with 12 minute remaining.

The towering Sterling lashed in a powerful free kick which goalkeeper Blake could only block and it fell nicely to the onrushing Creary, who slotted home.

The home team went into overdrive and pressed for the winner, but a tied result was ultimately a fair result.

Arnett Gardens — Julian McLeish, Williams Richards, Anthowe Dawkins, Rasheed Clarke, Nicholas Anderson (Fabian Davis 63rd), Lennox Creary, Rohan Reid (Cornel ChinSue 65th), Kevin King, Jermaine Gray (Leon Strickland 59th), Newton Sterling, Lamar Nelson.

Subs not used: O Robinson, L Murray, D McKinley, K Douglas.

Booked: Reid 24th, Richards 36th.

Sporting — Andre Blake, Akeem Anakie, Keithy Simpson, Camaal Reid, LeVaughn Williams, Marlon Allen, Kaydian Wynter, Jermaine Christian, Jamoley Powell (Christopher Banner 73rd), Alonzo Adlam (Francois Swaby 64th), Damarley Samuels (Hughan Gray 80th)

Subs not used: K Wiggan, J Barrett, T Alves, G Lewis.

Booked: Christian 89th.

Referee: Raymond Bogle

Assistant referees: Stephen Brown, Recordus Wilson

Fourth Official: Carvel Banton

Match Commissary: Owen Powell.