AFTER Arnett Gardens ended Waterhouse’s invincible start to the Legend Jamaica Premier League (JPL) season, assistant coach Fabian Taylor says the team’s home form will be key to their success going forward.

Dubbed the Jamaican “El Clasico”, five-time champions Arnett registered a 1-0 win over two time champions Waterhouse at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex on Monday.

Waterhouse, who hadn’t lost from their first eight games, had it all to do after goalkeeper Ackeem Bernard was shown a red card in the 53rd minute for a foul on Giovanni Taylor just outside the box.

The “Junglists” capitalised as Rushike Nelson found the winner in the 79th minute.

Waterhouse Head Coach Donovan Duckie (Photo: Paul A. Reid)

“It was a very tough game,” Taylor said. “Kudos to Waterhouse, I think they played us very well [but] our boys put on a very good show tonight in terms of the things that we asked them to do and they did it very well tonight.”

Arnett, who climb three places to sixth on 13 points, are unbeaten in their last six games and have yet to lose at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex. Taylor is hoping that will continue throughout the season.

“I thought our boys did the job for us tonight,” he said. “We asked them to make our home a fortress and we have to win all our home games and this is the start of it.”

Waterhouse were the only unbeaten team in the JPL before Monday’s game and Duckie is disappointed the streak ended.

Arnett Gardens FC Assistant Coach Fabian Taylor .

“We did well from the first minute,” he said. “I thought we did excellently in our analysis. We nullified their strength, we had more control over the game and we created more chances.

“In the first half, I thought we wanted to pick up the momentum but things went badly when we got that red card.

“But you have to give Arnett Gardens full credit, they did well, stuck to their game plan and nullified what we were doing. We tried to come back in the game (but) it was never meant to be for us. But you have to say thanks to the support of everyone that came from Waterhouse, kudos to our guys for putting up such a good fight but it was always going to be difficult for us.”

The defeat also meant Waterhouse missed the chance to return to the top of the table as they remain second on 18 points, two behind newly promoted Tru-Juice FC.

Racing United are a point behind the Drewsland based club in third after their goalless draw with 10th placed Phoenix Chapelton Maroons on Monday in the opening game of the double-header.