XAVIER Gilbert may have gone winless with the Reggae Girlz over the last week but he found success with Arnett Gardens on Monday evening as they beat Vere United 2-0 at Stadium East in the Wray and Nephew Jamaica Premier League.

There weren’t many chances in the first half but the “Junglists” ensured they capitalised on one of the few as in the 32nd minute Shai Smith’s low cross found an onrushing Rushane Thompson who tapped home with ease.

Arnett almost doubled their advantage with Warner Brown through on goal but saw this effort saved by the feet of Vere goalkeeper Roje Williams.

Just before the break, Vere forward Ricardo Dennis found himself in front of goal but misfired badly as they trailed going into half-time.

Nine minutes into the second half a good counter-attacking move from Vere saw substitute Alrick Maitland one-on-one with Arnett goalkeeper Eric Edwards, but his effort was saved.

The win was subsequently wrapped up in minute 72 as a mistake from Williams fell to the feet of Arnett’s Brown whose effort crashed off the crossbar — but the rebound fell to Jaheim Thomas who made no mistake in front of an empty goal.

Gilbert was satisfied with how Arnett executed the game.

“How we set up tactically, we were disciplined enough and we were smart in terms of what [we] do and how we do. They were possessing their ball in their defensive line but we made sure to stay organised and forced them into unforced errors, and capitalised on them. That’s something the young men have been doing well all season and it paid dividends tonight. We still created some opportunities [but], unfortunately, we didn’t make use [of] the amount we created — but three points in the bag is important.”

However, it was the opposite for Vere Head Coach Linval Dixon who was critical of his players.

“We lost our discipline, and these are the things players have to understand. You playing in a top league, your discipline has to be maintained for the entire game because every time you slip up or give a chance away, you take the ball out of the back of your net — and we paid for it dearly today, again. That’s something we have to continue to work on and, hopefully, we can improve on it because it’s not like Arnett Gardens outplayed us,” he lamented.

The win sees second-place Arnett move to 14 points while Vere remain in eighth on eight points.

At press time Tivoli Gardens and newcomers Treasure Beach FC were set to clash in the second game of the Monday Night double-header.