DEFENDING champions Arnett Gardens F C climbed back to third place on the Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) standing with 13 points following their 1-0 defeat of Waterhouse FC at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex, in a late kick-off, on Sunday.

Former Waterhouse player Kemal Malcolm scored the clincher four minutes from time to keep Arnett Gardens competitive in the RSPL with four wins and a draw from eight games. Meanwhile, the defeat has condemned Waterhouse to their fifth loss of the season with only two wins and a draw from eight games and only goal difference is separating them from last with seven points in the standing.

The clash between Arnett Gardens and Waterhouse had promised keen rivalry with both teams on the hunt for maximum points to help stabilise their individual campaigns. Arnett Gardens were seeking to recover from an agonising home defeat against Tivoli Gardens in their previous game, while Waterhouse, who had seen better days with three consecutive seasons finishing among the top-four positions, were keen on taking something from the game to perk up their flagging campaign.

Arnett Gardens were again slowly into stride as Waterhouse went in search of some early success. However, this was not to be. Hasty shooting and some good rearguard action from the Arnett Gardens defenders prevented Waterhouse from seizing the initiative and the teams went to the break on level terms.

Notwithstanding, just before the break, Waterhouse went close with right-sided defender Oshane Roberts striking a low, piercing thunder-blast from on the run that sizzled through the air goal-ward with venom. The ball, however, succeeded only in ricocheting off the Arnett Gardens goalkeeper Damian Hyatt and back into play.

Waterhouse seeking to continue the winning trend under interim coach Anthony Patrick returned for the second half with greater urgency while kicking up the slope early in the half, and once again Arnett Gardens were subjugated to playing second fiddle.

The home side injected a little life into their play in the second half with the introduction of Newton Sterling, Marcelino Blackburn and Michaelos Martin and it was Blackburn’s free-kick from just outside the area that laid the foundation for the victory.

And like the Phoenix, the hard-running Malcolm rose from the ashes in the dying moments of the game with renewed vigour, to help Arnett Gardens live through yet another ordeal.

Teams

Arnett Gardens — Damian Hyatt, Oniel Thompson, Dicoy Williams, Jabeur Johnson, Andrew Phang (Michaelos Martin 58th), Jameel Thompson, Jason Moore, Vishinul Harris, Kemal Malcolm, Andrew Moulton (Newton Sterling 66th) Lennox Russell (Marcelino Blackburn 74th)

Subs not used: Peter Harrison, Jamar Martin, Jarmar Jackson, Kenniel Hyde,

Booked: Moore (44th), Oniel Thompson (75th)

Waterhouse – Shannon Bartley, Rohan Amos, Damarley Samuels (Sean Coleman 60th), Oshane Roberts, Omar Walcott, Nicholy Finlayson, Evan Taylor, Kenroy Howell, Jermaine Anderson (Jamoly Powell 88th), Kemar Beckford, Andre Leslie (Romario Campbell 72nd)

Subs not used: Deron Duncan, Shamari Dyer, De Andre Brown,

Booked: Beckford (41st), Taylor (47th)

Referee: Raymond Bogle

Assistant Referees: Lloyd Reader, Oyinco McTaggart

Fourth Official: Jermaine Douglas

Match Commissioner: Horace Lewis