A 90th-minute strike by Vanado Manning propelled Arnett Gardens to a 1-0 win over Portmore United in the Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) match at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex on Sunday.

The tall Manning, who replaced Under-21 striker Omar Gordon in the 78th minute, latched on to a pass by captain Kirk Ramsey, who had outmuscled last defender Upton Edwards, and slotted home.

It was Arnett’s second home win and their third overall as they climbed one spot up to ninth on 13 points, just two behind the third-placed team in a closely-knitted mid-table.

Portmore United, who were losing only their second match of the season from 10 games, slipped a spot to second on 18 points, having an inferior goal difference to leaders Tivoli Gardens.

It wasn’t one of the most flowing and attractive games by Arnett Gardens, but coach Paul ‘Tegat’ Davis was satisfied with the gritty display by his team in securing a long overdue win.

“This is our best game cause once you play like this and soak up pressure, played in patches and scored a goal, then what more can you ask for,” said Davis, one of Jamaica’s most lethal strikers in his time.

“Most people want to see pretty football like the Portmore team and they lost. I think we played reasonable well as most of our bigger name players were not playing,” Davis pointed out.

“It is a long overdue win as we are going through some turmoil right now and the frustration came out tonight,” he added.

The turmoil Davis was referring to is the financial struggle the clubs are going through. “The whole Jamaica knows and all the teams are going through the same thing.”

Meanwhile, losing coach Calvin Lewis thought it was a good game, despite the loss. “In the first half we were having some problems in the middle, but we made some adjustments, took control in the second half and had Arnett defending inside their defensive third for most of the second half.”

He continued: “But when you have poor organisation at the back and you don’t defend and play safe at the back of the park, you will get hurt. This is the premier league.

“I guess we got carried away as we saw where we could win the game and were pushing in numbers forward and it hurt us today,” said Lewis.

But despite the defeat, Portmore United are still in the driver’s seat to secure one of two spots in the First End-of-Round Final following the final game in the round on Sunday.

Teams: Arnett Gardens — Damion Hyatt, Rasheede Clarke, Dwayne Gaynor, Kemar D Brown, Ricardo Smith, Kemar G Brown (Leon Strickland 48th), Rohan Reid, Rohan Williams, Jason Moore (Cornel ChinSue 72nd), Kirk Ramsey, Omar Gordon (Vanado Manning 78th)

Subs not used: Horatio Nelson, Gerald Neil, Girvon Brown, Newton Sterling

Booked: Kemar G Brown (20th)

Portmore United — Gariece McPherson, Upston Edwards, Adrian Reid, Rosario Harriott, Richard Allen, Andrew Vanzie, Ewan Grandison (Demarley Samuels 62nd), Tremaine Stewart (Tevin Skyers 82nd), Shauntel Mundle, Odoah Nickles (Roen Nelson 62nd), Eric Vernan

Subs not used: Kemar Foster, Rickcardo Harriott, Andrew Christie, John Ross Doyley

Booked: Allen (22nd), Grandison (32nd), Vanzie (42nd), Edwards (60th)

Referee: Courtney Campbell

Assistant Referees: Keble Williams, Damion Williams

Fourth Official: Carvel Banton

Match Commissary: Garfield McDonald