Arnett Gardens FC Women moved closer to the final of the Jamaica Women’s Premier League after edging Los Perfectos 3-2 in the first leg of their semi-final at the Captain Horace Burrell Centre of Excellence yesterday.

The contest turned into a battle between two of the league’s top scorers as Shikira Douglas netted twice for Arnett Gardens, while veteran Venicia Reid grabbed a brace for Los Perfectos.

Douglas opened the scoring in the second minute and added another just before half-time to take her tally to 18 goals this season, while Taunashae Hamilton also got on the scoresheet for Arnett in the 78th minute.

Reid, better known as String Bean, scored in the 28th and 89th minutes for the Manchester-based Los Perfectos to move to 21 goals for the season and keep her team firmly in contention heading into the second leg.

Arnett started brightly and took the lead after just one minute and 28 seconds under the watchful eye s of national senior women’s Head Coach Hugh Busby.

Douglas capitalised on a backward glance header from Abigail Mullings, outran the last defender, and calmly finished past the goalkeeper.

Arnett continued to expose the Los Perfectos backline and should have extended their advantage, but were let down by poor finishing.

However, Reid equalised against the run of play when she beat the offside trap and calmly slotted home.

Arnett regained the lead just before the break when Douglas collected a ball over the top and finished neatly to hand the Junglists a 2-1 half-time advantage.

Arnett resumed on the front foot after the restart with Suen Gregory causing problems for the Los Perfectos defence.

Gregory slipped a pass through to Hamilton, who raced into the area and fired home to make it 3-1 in the 78th minute.

But just when it appeared Arnett had taken firm control of the tie, Reid struck again in the 89th minute.

She collected a through ball from Shonda Mullings, held off the challenge of Shaquilla Forbes, and scored from a tight angle to give Los Perfectos hope heading into the return leg.

The late strike also left Arnett Gardens ruing a number of missed chances that could have put the tie beyond their opponents before next Saturday’s second leg at the same venue.

Arnett Gardens Women’s FC head coach Garnett Lawrence (Photo: Naphtali Junior)

Los Perfectos FC head coach Maurice Duncan(Photo: Naphtali Junior)

Los Perfectos’ Nickela Thomas (right) steps in to block a shot from Arnett Gardens’ Shikiri Douglas during their Jamaica Women’s Premier League first-leg semi-final game at the uWI-JFF Captain Horace Burrell Centre of Excellence yesterday.(Photo: Naphtali Junior)

JWPL logo