LEADERS Arnett Gardens and neighbours Boys’ Town battled to a pulsating 3-3 draw in their Red Stripe Premier League derby game at Collie Smith Drive yesterday.

It was a result that had little bearing on the tables as the visiting Arnett Gardens maintained their six-point lead atop of the standing on 57 points from 29 games, while Boys’ Town stayed ninth on 34 points to be seven points above the relegation zone with four matches remaining.

In a key match, defending champions Montego Bay United and Waterhouse played out an entertaining 0-0 draw in their third-round encounter at WesPow Park, a result that delays possible qualification for both to the semi-finals.

The draw, the first between the clubs this year, saw second-placed Waterhouse move to 51 points, while Montego Bay United improved to 49 and will stay in third place at the end of the round.

At Collie Smith Drive, Xavean Virgo gave Boys’ Town an 11th-minute lead with a well-taken free kick that dipped over the wall and brushed goalkeeper Damion Hyatt’s right upright on its way in.

Veteran Kevin ‘Pele’ Wilson levelled the score in the 44th minute, firing past Kirk Porter and off the underside of the crossbar.

Wilson then turned provider as his corner kick was expertly headed home by Kenneil Hyde in the 51st minute giving Arnett the advantage.

But the home team would roar back as Andre Dawson, who came on in the 68th minute, turned in a Virgo free kick to once again level the score.

Boys’ Town were now in the ascendancy and in a goal-saving tackle, the experienced Oneil ‘Bigga’ Thompson got injured and was sidelined for treatment. In that short period, Arnett’s backline were in shambles as Boys’ Town raised their game looking for that go-ahead goal.

And after some probing, they got their goal three minutes after courtesy of Peter Keyes, who fired home in the 77th minute making it 3-2 for the home team.

Playing without former national defender Dicoy Williams, who was on the bench, it was amazing how the absence of Thompson just for a few minutes highlighted weaknesses in Arnett’s backline.

But things would be reverted to normalcy once the veteran defender re-entered the field. And interestingly, another veteran Wilson showed the youngsters how it’s done by side-footing home his second of the day in the 80th minute following a determined run by Marvin Morgan, who stole the ball from Asrick Samuels and passed to Vishinul Harris who then picked out an unmarked Wilson in the box to once again level the score.

Meanwhile, Harbour View rekindled their play-off hopes with a 2-1 win over Reno FC at Frome. Rojay Smith and Ranique Muir netted for Harbour View in the 72nd and 81st minutes, respectively, while Craig Foster recorded his league-leading 19th goal of the season from the penalty spot in the 83rd minute for Reno.

The Stars of the East remained in fifth spot on 43 points, two adrift of the inactive Humble Lion on 45 and holding the final play-off spot. It was a cruel blow to Reno’s survival hopes as they stayed 11th on 27 points and in real danger of being relegated once again.

Meanwhile Tivoli Gardens reignited their slim play-off chances with a 1-0 win over Rivoli United at the Spanish Town Prison Oval. Junior McGregor scored the winner in the 41st minute in which Troy Moulton of Tivoli Gardens and Andre Morgan of Rivoli were red-carded in the 90+4 minutes.

Tivoli Gardens are sixth on 41 points, four points adrift of a play-off spot while Rivoli United are eighth with 37 points.

— Howard Walker

Teams:

BOYS’ TOWN — Kirk Porter, Asrick Samuels, Carlos Wright, Victor Thompson, Xavean Virgo. Daemion Benjamin, Garfield Gillespie, Marvin Stewart (Andre Dawson 68th), Mitchily Waul (Shamar Nicholson 66th), Rafeik Thomas, Peter Keyes.

Subs not used: Leon Goffe, Trevin Garnett, Rohan Scott, Akeem Bradford, Anthony Dawes.

Booked: Thomas (26th), Samuels (82nd)

ARNETT GARDENS — Damian Hyatt, Oneil Thompson, Jabeur Johnson, Shaquille Dyer, Jason Moore, Marvin Morgan, Kenniel Hyde, Jameel Thompson (Jaron Richards 87th), Vishinul Harris (Kemal Malcolm 87th), Michaelos Martin (Marcelino Blackburn 74th), Kevin Wilson.

Subs not used: Peter Harrison, Steve Clarke, Jamar Martin, Dicoy Williams.

Booked: Thompson (20th), Morgan (42nd), Dyer (58th), Harris (77th)

Referee: Valdin Legister

Assistant Referees: Damian Williams, Jermaine Yee-Sing

Fourth Official: Oshane Nation

Match Commissioner: Elaine Walker-Brown.