Arnett Gardens moved to the top of the Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) standings with a gutsy 2-0 win over arch-rivals Tivoli Gardens at the Anthony Spaulding Sport Complex on Sunday.

The Junglists now have seven points, two more than promoted Reno FC, gathered from three matches having also defeated Harbour View in their opening game and then drawn 2-2 with Rivoli United at Stadium East in their second.

“It was a victory we thoroughly enjoyed,” said coach Jerome Waite, who was beaming with satisfaction as his battery of youngsters stepped up to the plate and delivered. Marvin Morgan and Jaron Richards found the net for Arnett Gardens.

“The rivalry between these two teams is always electrifying and after a below par first half we returned to step up our game with the youngsters scoring and got another positive result,” Waite added.

Tivoli Gardens played well enough in the first half to make their hosts look very ordinary, but failed to punish them as only shots from Robert Williams and Andre Morgan bore any venom that could have caused anxious moments for the hosts.

And with Tivoli Gardens not being able to make better use of their opening encouraging play coach Alvin Shaw was understandably disappointed.

Nonetheless, Shaw sees hope for his team to get better in upcoming games as the players become fitter.

“As far as today’s game (Sunday’s) went, it was a disappointing result for us but at the end of the day Arnett Gardens, a much fitter team than we are at the moment, came and played much harder than we did, especially in the second half, hence the negative result for us.”

Having looked tame in the first half when Arnett Gardens returned for the second half much of the same was not a far-fetched possibility. On the resumption, though, the game turned on its head as the Junglists returned in a nononsense mood.

Cutting a more positive dynamic picture, three minutes into the session Arnett Gardens put Tivoli Gardens behind from a Jaron Richards strike. Vishinul Harris, who was woeful in the first half, began an astute move in midfield. He then released Michaelos Martin with a hair-raising, defencesplitting pass that befuddled the Tivoli Gardens defence.

Martin moved in for the kill but as in the first half when he failed to beat goalkeeper Edsel Scott by hitting straight at him again failed in his attempt once more to leave his mark on the game with a goal. However, an alert Jason Richards got in between a Tivoli Gardens defender and keeper to slip the ball across the line to register his first goal in the Arnett Gardens colours.

Tivoli Gardens still trying to recover their composure from the early second-half setback went farther behind four minutes later.

Morgan, who was setting alight the right side with some darting runs, increased the visitors’ torment from the spot. The Tivoli Gardens skipper Kasai Hinds was adjudged to have handled the ball in the area while Morgan was working his way towards goal.

Referee Valdin Legister unhesitatingly pointed to the spot from where Morgan converted. This was the end of the scoring for both sides but not before Scott had to go full stretch in spectacular fashion in time added to parry a fullblooded, close-range shot around his far post to keep substitute Michael Webb from scoring.

Teams: Arnett Gardens — Damian Hyatt, Dicoy Williams, Steve Clarke, Jerry Walters (Jamar Martin 54th), Jaron Richards, Jahmeel Thompson, Vishinul Harris (Michael Webb 90th), Dasha Satchell, Michaelos Martin, Jabeur Johnson, Marvin Morgan (Alonzo Adlam 69th). Subs not used: B Wright, R Wilson, A Dawkins, P Doyle Booked: Clarke (23rd), Johnson (71st).

Tivoli Gardens — Edsel Scott, Robert Williams, Kasai Hinds, Barrington Pryce, Kemar Flemmings, Andre Morgan, Rohan Reid (Nicholas Scott 58th) Shawn McKoy (Rodico Wellington 86th), Lennox Creary (Davion Garrison 58th), Keammar Daley, Andre McFarlane. Subs not used: D Duncan, J Robinson, M Williams, S Campbell Booked: Morgan (14th), Pryce (55th), Williams (90th+2) Referee: Valdin Legister Assistant Referees: Lloyd Edwards, Damian Williams Fourth Official: Courtney Campbell Match Commissary: Norman Blair