KINGSTON, Jamaica – Arnett Gardens Football Club’s run as Caribbean Football Union Club (CFU) Shield champions ended on Tuesday after they were hammered 4-1 by Athletic Club of Port of Spain in their first round group game played at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain, Trinidad.

Shakiel Henry scored a double for the Trinidad and Tobago team as Arnett Gardens bowed out of the contest that would have qualified them for the Concacaf Champions League where only defending champions Cavalier Soccer Club and Mt Pleasant Football Academy will represent Jamaica.

According to the rules of the CFU Shield competition this year, teams will play just two games in the first round with the winners advancing to the semi-final.

Arnett Gardens Football Club had won their opening game 4-0 against Dublanc Football Club of Dominica on Sunday but went into Tuesday’s game in second place on goal-difference behind Club Franciscain of Martinique who had won their first round game 5-0.

On Tuesday, Henry gave AC Port of Spain a 1-0 half-time lead after he scored the opening goal in the 24th minute. A defender’s goal in the 64th minute doubled the lead before Joel Jones gave Arnett Gardens FC hope in the 76 th minute when he beat the Trinidad and Tobago national goalkeeper Marvin Phillips with a bomb from about 30 yards out to make the scores 2-1.

AC Port of Spain, however, restored their two goals lead two minutes later when Arnett Gardens FC’s goalkeeper Roje Williams allowed a cross from the right hand side to go through his legs and Henry tapped in from two yards out.

The final nail in the Arnett Gardens Football Club’s coffin came in time added when Williams was caught just outside his 18-yard box and the ball was played over his head and substitute Michael Chaves scored into an open goal.

-Paul A Reid