ARNETT Gardens’ top striker, Kirk Ramsay, missed an open goal in time added to hand visiting Cavalier FC a share of the points in their third-round Red Stripe Premier League game at Anthony Spaulding Sport Complex on Sunday.

Playing much better football than they did against Sporting Central Academy in their Red Stripe Premier League match a week ago in heavy underfoot condition at the Edward Seaga Complex, Cavalier revelled in their opponents’ shortcomings to open the scoring 21 minutes inside the second half through Deno Schaffe.

The goal came within three minutes after Cavalier had made their first change by bringing on Geovaunie Samuda in place of the dynamic but up-to-that-time the unproductive Mickhail Robinson.

The move, immediately paid rich dividends, saw Cavalier winning a free kick just outside the Arnett Gardens 18-yard box and close to the by-line.

Samuda took the spot kick on the right of the box and Schaffe, a tall midfielder soared above the Arnett Gardens defence to meet the cross with a mighty thud with his head and the ball dipped under the crossbar and outside the reach of goalkeeper Peter Harrison.

This prompted hosts Arnett into desperate action, and although not improving on their passing game and with defeat staring them in the face, they found another gear and increased intensity of play.

This period of play put the visitors under pressure and from it came the equaliser, eight minutes after falling behind. The equaliser was also the result of a headed goal.

Midfielder Marcelino Blackburn picked up a ball on the left and made a sharp cross to the far corner where the hard-working Kenneil Hyde got on to the end of it to squeeze a neat header past goalkeeper McPherson at his near post.

It was a result that peeved Arnett Gardens coach Calvin Lewis, who summed up his team’s performance as “the decision making of the team today was poor”.

“We neglected the basic fundamentals of play by not passing properly even when not under any pressure to hurry,” he said.

None was more glaring than the decision of his leading goalscorer Ramsay to beat the ball wide of its intended mark when a simple and calculated lifting the ball out of goalkeeper Gariece McPherson’s reach would have brought his team a goal and more likely maximum points.

In the second minute of time added and probably an eagerness to clear the ball out of harm’s way, goalkeeper McPherson rushed from his line to fist a ball away but only succeeded in gifting the ball to Ramsay, and with an unprotected goal, forced the issue and spurned the glorious chance.

Under more congenial underfoot conditions and a better-balanced selection, Lalor said: “It was a much better performance than it was in our last Premier League game. We put the ball down and passed. We were able to raise our game to match that of Arnett when they increased the pace,” he said.

Teams: Arnett Gardens—  Peter Harrison, Desmond Breakenridge, Anthowe Dawkins, Oneil Thompson (Jonathan Williams 70th), Jason Moore (Newton Sterling 65th), Marcelino Blackburn, Fabian Reid, Richardo Smith, Kirk Ramsay, Kenneil Hyde, Kemal Malcolm (Ricardo Oldham 61st)

Subs not used: D Hyatt, K Brown, D Gaynor, V Manning

Booked: Dawkins (30th), Breakenridge (69th)

Cavalier FC — Gariece McPherson, Donovan Alveranga, Deno Schaffe, Andre Forbes, Claudious Blackburn, Adaine Simpson, Kirk Fletcher, Oshane Jenkins (Andre Aikens 72nd), Odane Greensword (Geovaunie Samuda 63rd) Gregory Gayle, Mickhail Robinson (Anthony Stitchell 68th)

Subs not used: E Scarlett, C Bennett, D Wilson, C Marsh

Booked: Blackburn (29th), Schaffe (31st)

Referee: Christophel Stewart

Assistant Referees: Richard Washington, Stephen Brown

Fourth Official: Wilverglen Lamey

Match Commissioner: Charles Barrett