Champions Arnett Gardens FC returned to the top of the Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) points standing after defeating Cavalier SC 1-0 at the Stadium East on Monday night.

Kemal Malcolm, the team’s leading goal scorer, struck his 11th goal of the season in minute 44 to secure victory for Arnett Gardens. Malcolm, who was for the most part wayward with his shooting on goal during the match, redeemed himself after he followed up on a screamer from Marvin Morgan which goalkeeper Carlloyd Walters only managed to get his palms to, without clearing the danger. The ball then fell in front of his goal inside the six-yard area from where Malcolm moved swiftly to prod across the goal line.

The win, Arnett Gardens’ 14th of the campaign against six defeats, pushed them to 46 points. The defending champions are now one point ahead of Montego Bay United FC who a day earlier defeated fourth-placed Humble Lion FC (35).

Despite the victory, winning coach Jerome Waite said that he was not entirely satisfied with some aspects of the team’s play. “As you may have noticed, it was not a fluent game. The playing surface was pretty much bumpy, so the game you expected from both teams never materialised. But in the end, we scored a goal and full credit must be given to Kemal Malcolm. Last season at this time he had only one goal to his credit for the season and to have 11 at this time is a major achievement.”

Losing coach Rudolph Speid was pleased with his team’s first-half exploits to contain Arnett Gardens but he was distraught by the goal that knocked the wind out of their sails. “The truth is we looked at the Arnett Gardens pattern of the play structure and we played against them with a tactic to counter their approach and it was really working effectively. We immobilised their wing backs in their half and let them play with five defenders instead of three, so we forced them to switch from a 3-4-3 formation to one of a 5-3-2 and that was responsible for us being so effective in the first half due to our flank play. This summarily allowed us to control the game 58 to 42 per cent of the first half,” Spied advanced.

“We, however, got a killer blow nearing the end of the half with a clear off-side goal. And once that happened,” he continued, “that set us back and we then had to pick ourselves up and come from the back. It was a burden too much to bear considering the circumstances and after this, they (Arnett Gardens) kind of sat back and the game was played differently.

“Nonetheless, nearing the end of the play, we got a few good chances with which we should have done better. Even so, we suffered again in the period of 90 plus two minutes. At that point, we won what appeared to be a clear penalty with the referee yards away. We, however, did not get the call and after that, we went down 1-0.

“On reflection, I thought our team played well and showed much that is to be desired. We played the number one team in the country and I do not think that they could be pleased with what transpired during the evening’s play. It is no gainsaying the fact that we had them under enormous pressure throughout the game,” Spied said.

Teams: Cavalier SC – Carlloyd Walters, Shawn Lawes, Jeffery Grant, Shane Smith, Oshane Jenkins (Dawayne Smith 66th), Jeffery Henry, Jason Watson, Chevone Marsh, Ryan Miller (Suela McCalla 57th), Cleon Pryce, Andre Dawson (Aldine Grant 89th)

Subs not used: Nicholas Hamilton, Raheem Ellis, Deron Duncan, Norman Bailey

Booked: Marsh (39th)

Arnett Gardens FC – Damian Hyatt, Oniel Thompson, Jabeur Johnson, Ranike Anderson, Jason Moore, Marvin Morgan (Michaelos Martin 89th), Kenniel Hyde, Vishinul Harris, Kemal Malcolm, Leon Strickland (Newton Sterling 89th), Marcelino Blackburn (Lennox Russell 89th)

Subs not used: Peter Harrison, Jamar Martin, Jahmeel Thompson, Andrew Phang

Booked: Anderson (90th)

Referee: Kevin Morrison

Assistant Referees: Stacy Ann Grayson, Stephanie Dale-Yee Sing

Fourth Official: Karl Tyrell

Match Commissioner: Anthony Cooke