TUCKER, St James — Montego Bay United’s (MBU) fight against relegation suffered a massive blow on Sunday when they were beaten 2-1 by Arnett Gardens at Wespow Park, ending a four-game unbeaten run and a two-game winning streak and with three games to go the signs are not good for the two-time champions.

A goal in either half from Zhelano Barnes and Jamiel Hardware was a bitter blow for the team that had dragged themselves off the floor of the league and were just a few points away from safety.

The loss left MBU stuck on 27 points, four behind 10th-place Harbour View, who won on Sunday, while Arnett Gardens moved up to fifth place on 44 points and within reach of a play-off spot.

It was coach Luciano Gama’s first loss as coach of MBU and his disappointment was obvious. “It’s a very, very bad result for us,” he said. “One point was not good and imagine we lost all three, but we have to keep going until we get the chances. We have three more games and we must go after those nine points.”

Gama said while they did not have a good game overall they still did well enough to have earned at least a draw or even a win. “Unfortunately we did not have a good game today, we could have done better when we drew level. I think we continued to play as if we were down and we paid for it on the counter attack as we did not create too much chances ourselves.”

He praised Arnett Gardens. “They are a well-organised team and they have a clear team plan and you can see they followed their team plan throughout the game. It’s football and you can win, lose and draw but unfortunately we don’t have too much depth and options on the team so we have to do with what we have.”

Arnett Gardens’ coach Jerome Waite agreed that it was a tough game against the scrappy MBU side. “We should have put away this game from the first half based on the number of opportunities that we crated,” he told the Jamaica Observer. “But it came down to decision-making in the final third.”

Waite said the MBU defensive effort thwarted them repeatedly, especially in the first half. “They made it tough for us but we gave a good performance and the heat got to them at one time and that led to the equaliser.”

Despite going behind early, MBU continued to fight and the introduction of Deshane Beckford at the start of the second half gave them the thrust they needed upfront as they drew level and should have taken the lead midway the second half.

MBU started well and took the fight to Arnett Gardens and could have gone ahead as early as the fourth minute but for a brilliant reflex save from Mikhail Harrison in the Arnett Gardens goal.

Harrison was at his near right post and reacted in a flash to pluck a ball from Lesly St Fleur out of the air, knocking it down at his feet and grabbing it on the rebound.

Two minutes later Dwayne Ambusley shot just over the bar after a nice build-up between St Fleur, Johann Weatherly and Dino Williams, the latter playing the ball back from the Arnett Gardens 18-yard box into the path of the onrushing midfielder.

It was the visitors who took the lead, as the MBU defence was slow in getting back into position, giving Barnes time and space to curl a left-footer past Jacomeno Barrett.

The MBU custodian did well to keep the score at just 1-0 in the 22nd minute, diving to his right to parry a shot from close range for a corner.

The introduction of Beckford for Weatherly in the second half saw MBU forcing back Arnett Gardens in their own defensive third and led to the equalising goal.

Beckford waltzed past Jamar Martin and his cross was dropped by Harrison only for Williams to leap and volley into the goal from about one yard.

Williams should have given MBU the lead in the 69th minute as another sublime pass from Beckford saw him get past two defenders and Harrison but with the wide open goal at his mercy the striker dragged the shot wide as the large home crowd looked on in disbelief.

The miss would come back to haunt the home team as Arnett Gardens surged into contention and after missing a chance in the 79th minute, they were gifted one in the 81st minute.

Barrett came out of his area to block a shot but was beaten and was caught in two minds and Reanaldo Cephas, who replaced Lennox Russell, floated the ball in to the centre of the penalty area where Hardware made no mistake with a point-blank header.

MBU had one last chance to grab a point late in the game but John Barrett headed powerfully just over the bar from a corner kick.

Teams

Montego Bay United — Jacomeno Barrett, Renaldo Wellington, John Barrett, Eric Acquah, Orlando McBayne (Jermaine Woozencroft 58th), Keniel Kirlew, Johann Weatherly (Deshane Beckford 46th), Dwayne Ambusley, Dino Williams, Lesly St Fleur, Donovan Carey (Trevaughn Walker 91st)

Subs not used: Richard Addo, Sheldon McKoy, Albert Asare, Giovanni Reid

Booked: None

Arnett Gardens — Mikhail Harrison, Ramone McGregor, Jabeur Johnson, Jamar Martin, Tamar Edwards, Zhelano Barnes (Rikardo Oldham 74th), Lamard Neil (Paul Wilson 80th), Jamiel Hardware, Fabian Reid, Michaelos Martin, Lennox Russell (Reanaldo Cephas 68th)

Subs not used: Damion Hyatt, Jahvahni Hinds, Renald Wright, Javoni Simms, Kemar Reid

Booked: Fabian Reid (51st)

Referee: Doyen Tummings

Assistant Referees: Richard Washington, Melvin Reid

Fourth Official: Damion Tummings

Match Commissary: Marlene Brown