ARNETT Garden’s captain Kirk Ramsay scored with two minutes of regular time remaining to give his team a share of the points against Tivoli Gardens in Wednesday’s Digicel Premier League match at the Edward Seaga Sports Complex.

Roland Dean had opened the scoring for the home team in the 39th minute when he turned and spectacularly fired a half-volley beyond ‘keeper Maurice Evans from the edge of the 18-yard box.

Tivoli, who won the first End-of-Round final, remain atop the overall standings with 38 points, while Arnett hold onto seventh place with 29.

Arnett coach Paul ‘Tegat’ Davis said his team deserved the point after an improved second-half showing.

“We were lackadaisical in the first half and allowed Tivoli to win a lot of first and second balls and we made silly mistakes. (In the) second half we made the adjustments with a three-forward system so that put them (Tivoli Gardens) back and we played with a bit more urgency, so we deserved that late goal,” he said.

Boosted by Dean’s first half wonder strike, the league leaders defended stoutly and largely threatened the visitors from counter-attacks.

Ironically, they were burnt by a similar ploy when lanky midfielder Rohan Reid split Tivoli’s high defensive back-line with a pass through to Ramsay, who motored towards goal before blasting through the outstretched hands of custodian Edsel Scott.

Glendon “Admiral’ Bailey, coach of Tivoli, bemoaned his team’s lack of purpose while in possession of the ball, but credited Arnett for launching a clinical counter-attack.

“They caught us on a counter, a very good one, and that is what I tell the guys. We’re leading with time to go we have to manage (possession) and know what is to be done.

“We were pushing up too much, especially the backline, and it was just one of those tough, luck days. In the second half we slacked off a little bit and allowed Arnett to come at us,” Bailey said.

Referee Courtney Campbell and his two assistants Keble Williams and Recordus Wilson, along with fourth official Cardella Samuels, left the venue visibly upset after their changing room was ransacked by unscrupulous persons.

The Observer witnessed all four lodging complaints to Tivoli Gardens’ administrators after checks of their personal effects revealed missing cash, phones, wallets and other items.

TEAMS:

Tivoli Gardens — Edsel Scott, Damion Gordon, Kasai Hinds, Rupert Murray, Christopher Jackson, Jerry Walters, Steve Green (Kevin Blackford 70th), Shawn McKoy, Devon Hodges (Kevin Deer 74th), Roland Dean, Navion Boyd (Kwame Richardson 60th)

Subs not used: L Gordon, J Thompson, L Wright, J Taylor

Booked: Murray (45th), Scott (59th), Gordon (68th), Walters (71st)

Arnett Gardens — Maurice Evans, William Richards, Ryan Powell, Marvin Stewart (Gerald Neil 73rd), Rohan Reid, Leon Strickland, Dennis McKenley (Newton Sterling 53rd), Dwayne Gaynor, Fabian Reid (Ricardo Stern 52nd), Kirk Ramsay, Ricardo Smith

Subs not used: D Hyatt, V Manning, N Anderson, J Durant

Booked: Powell (18th), Ramsay (89th)

Referee: Courtney Campbell

Assistant Referees: Keble Williams, Recordus Wilson

Fourth Official: Cardella Samuels

Match Commissary: Martin Lyn