Defending champions Arnett Gardens FC continue to lead the Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) football title chase with an insouciant, second-half, two-goal spurt that handed former four-time champions Harbour View FC consecutive defeats in a 2-1 result at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex on Monday night.

Man of the Match Damari Deacon, playing like a Trojan throughout with unflappable craft and cunning, broke the deadlock for Arnett Gardens after outfoxing the Harbour View defence six minutes after the teams returned to the field for the second half. It was Deacon’s second goal of the season for Arnett Gardens in the RSPL.

Steve Clarke took the field in the 71st minute to replace a limping Marvin Morgan. He then increased the visitors’ woe one minute after he entered the fray, with a splendid strike from his first touch from just outside the goal area that left goalkeeper Joel Johnson beaten as the ball flew past him on its way to nestle in the pigeon hole.

Harbour View, though outgunned in the second half, earlier did enough in the first half to be on par with their hosts, with telling shots that made goalkeeper Damian Hyatt save well. Notwithstanding, for solace, second-half substitute Jaleel Chamberlain eventually scrambled one across the goal line to give respectability to the score with four official minutes of time remaining. It was Hyatt’s only blemish of the night when he appeared to drop the ball near to his goal line.

With one set of matches remaining in the first round, the victory took the defending champions to a points-high 22 from 10 games, four more than closest rivals Portmore United, UWI and Tivoli Gardens, all on 18 points, in the order separated by only goal differences.

Harbour View, who missed twice to improve their standings, remain on 13 points in seventh position, while Cavalier Soccer Club fifth and FC Reno sixth are above them on 15 points each.

Montego Bay United FC who drew 0-0 with Portmore United FC are on 12 points, while Humble Lion FC, who also drew 0-0 with Waterhouse, are on nine points, and Waterhouse FC on eight, with Boys’ Town and Sandals South Coast are at the foot of the standing, on six points each.

Teams: Arnett Gardens FC — Damion Hyatt, Thompson, Jabeur Johnson, Jamar Martin, Vishinul Harris (Renae Lloyd 84th), Tamar Edwards, Kenniel Hyde (Lamar Neil 80th), Oniel Anderson, Fabian Reid, Damari Deacon, Marvin Morgan (Steve Clarke 71st)

Subs not used: Shamarley Clayton, Renaldo Wright, Rickardo Oldham, Newton Sterling

Booked: Deacon (27th), Edwards (82nd)

Harbour View FC — Joel Johnson, Kemar Bennett, Ryan Wellington, Ajeanie Talbott, Kereen Manning, Damarley Oliver (Jaleel Chamberlain 69th), Hugh Evans (Richard Anderson 79th), Sheldon McKoy, Andrew Allen (Peter-Lee Vassell 76th) Daniel Green, Michael Lutas

Subs not used: Christian Kluvi, Christopher Harvey, Jelani Nicholson, Evan Taylor

Booked: Evans (45th)

Referee: Oshane Nation

Assistant referees: Omar Mills, Damian Williams

Fourth official: Karl Tyrell

Match commissioner: Andrew Payne

— Hurbun Williams