Shai Smith and Fabian Reid both scored second half braces as Arnett Gardens beat 10-man Montego Bay United 4-2 in the third place play-off of the Jamaica Premier League at the National Stadium on Friday.

Brian Brown also scored two goals for Montego Bay United with all six goals coming in the second half after Montego Bay wasted a number of good scoring opportunities in the first 45 minutes.

Montego Bay finished the game with 10 players after Odane Nish was sent off for elbowing an Arnett Gardens player in the face.

Arnett finish third in the competition for the third consecutive year and will get the chance to defend their Concacaf shield title starting in August.

Rushike Kelson of Arnett Gardens with his man of the match prize after the third place playoff between Arnett Gardens and Montego Bay United at the National Stadium on Friday, May 23, 2025. Arnett Gardens won the match 4-2. (Photo: Naphtali Junior)

It was a disappointing finish for Montego Bay who conceded four goals in one game for the first time this season.

Brown had two good scoring chances in the first half, letting a slow starting Arnett Gardens off the hook. However, two mistakes by defender Jordan Britto in the second half handed the game to the ‘Junglist’.

After going scoreless for almost 60 minutes, all six goals were scored in the final 37 minutes of the game as Smith started the scoring when he headed past goalkeeper Davonnie Burton in the 57th minute from a Rushike Kelson cross from the right side.

Brown drew Montego Bay level in the 68th minute when he was picked out by Peter-Lee Vassell on a set play and curled it left footed into the far corner.

Arnett Gardens responded decisively with two goals in two minutes. Smith was allowed time inside the Montego Bay 18 yards box and swiveled and fired a left footed shot past Burton in the 71st minute to restore their lead.

It was 3-1 a minute later when a lazy pass from Britto was picked off and played forward to Reid who made no mistake.

Nish was sent off in the 78th minute and Arnett Gardens killed off the game as a contest three minutes later, as another poor decision by Britto was punished as Reid got his second of the half.

Brown pulled one back late in the game, side-footing a cross from the right side past goalkeeper Jadavian Waul.

-Paul A Reid