FAULKLAND FC secured only their third point of the season in the Jamaica Premier League (JPL), earning a surprise 0-0 result with Arnett Gardens at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex in the Monday night football feature match.

Leacroft Lettman-coached Faulkland began the match week rooted to the foot of the table on two points while former champions Arnett Gardens began in third place on 17 points and were looking to close the gap on the teams above them.

However, Arnett’s profligacy in front of goal and Faulkland’s tenacity in the closing stages of the game gave the Montego Bay-based team a very valuable point in its fight for premier league survival.

Arnett Gardens should have run out comfortable winners but glaring first-half misses by Ajuma Johnson and Fabian Reid, both of whom are usually reliable in front of goal, kept Faulkland in the game.

Faulkland rode their luck throughout the second half and almost grabbed a famous victory with the last chance of the game in added time.

Arnett Gardens goalkeeper Eric Edwards had to react smartly, diving to his left to save a shot from Shanoy Anderson that was destined for the bottom corner.

Lettman said the positive things happening off the field are having the desired impact on the pitch.

“I think the overall impact is [better] organisation,” he said during the post-match interview.

“It starts from off the field. Off-the-field plays a big role in getting on the field and the whole social impact that was breaking down in the team. We got them in the rectangle with the social behaviour and how to play together as a team — and it paid dividends,” he said.

Lettman said the players revelled in the opportunity to be featured in a television match for the first time this season.

“I think the guys were all pumped up for this and waiting for their families back home to see them on the television, and it’s a plus. It brought out a lot in them because they fought for the whole city of Montego Bay and their community and their family.”

It was only a point gained for Faulkland but with the other newcomers to the league, Chapelton Maroons being docked six points for their failure to honour their fixture on Sunday, Lettman’s team is no longer last in the JPL.

“It’s a very good platform to start because we were at the bottom. We told the guys, ‘We can’t go further than the bottom.’ We had to come here and dig deep to try and get something out of it. I told them that we need at least seven points from the three games [to finish the round] and then we take it from there when the second round starts.”

Faulkland will now be taking aim at Vere United, who are just above them and remain on seven points after they lost in heartbreaking fashion when they conceded late in a 0-1 loss to Dunbeholden FC in the opening encounter on Monday night.

“The aim is to get them back on the training ground and get all of them to come out and once they believe in the product…then it will pay dividends and we see what can come out of it,” Lettman said.