Sterling strikes as Arnett hurt P’More
A 54th-minute strike from former Portmore United player Newton Sterling gave visitors Arnett Gardens a 1-0 victory over their relegation rivals at the Ferdie Neita Park in a rescheduled Digicel Premier League match yesterday.
The result pulled Arnett from the bottom of the table up to 10th place with 29 points, while Portmore replace them in the cellar position on 27 points.
In first-half action, Portmore showed more adventure and industry in midfield through Michael Binns and Bryan Bayliss, but both were oftentimes let down by inaccuracy in the final third. Arnett chose to soak up the pressure and tried to hit on the break with Kevin King, Kevin Wilson and Sterling doing the chasing.
The game sprang to life nine minutes into the second half when King and Wilson combined well on the left before the latter powered past Portmore’s Anthony Modeste and crossed for Sterling to side-foot with ‘keeper Duwayne Kerr beaten.
Twenty minutes later Adrian Reid had the opportunity to equalise for the homesters, but he shot wide of the near post after intelligent work from substitute Roen Nelson.
That miss condemned Portmore to their second loss in a row and has further compounded their battle against demotion. Arnett, on the other hand, welcome three precious points as they try to orchestrate their escape from the relegation zone.
TEAMS:
Portmore — Duwayne Kerr, Anthony Modeste, Adrian Reid, Andre Darby, Tyrone Sawyers, Ryan Powell, Michael Binns, Mario Swaby, Bryan Bayliss (Ricardo Cousins 62nd), Steven Morrissey (Roen Nelson 58th), Gary McIntosh (Tramaine Stewart 58th)
Subs not used: G McPherson, S Mundle, O Campbell, W Wolfe
Booked: none
Arnett Gardens — Julian McLeish, Anthowe Dawkins, Gerald Neil, Kevin Wilson, Garfield Gillespie, Cornel Chin-Sue, Newton Sterling, Courtney Reid (Nicholas Dodd 71st), Dennis McKinley, Craig White (Rasheede Clarke 81st), Kevin King (Leon Strickland 66th)
Subs not used: D Hyatt, L Nelson, J Gray, S Murphy
Booked: none
Referee: Courtney Campbell
Assistant referees: Stacy-Ann Greyson, Lloyd Reader
Fourth official: Raymond Bogle
Match Commissary: Garfield McDonald.
