MBU, Arnett Gardens both left frustrated by draw

MONTEGO BAY, St James — Both coaches, Dillon Thelwell of Montego Bay United and Xavier Gilbert of Arnett Gardens, thought they should have won Monday’s Jamaica Premier League third-round game played at the Montego Bay Sports Complex.

In the end the teams had to settle for a 2-2 draw as the home team coming from behind twice, helped by poor defending, led to goals for Arnett Gardens who remain in second place on 62 points — two more than Montego Bay United — with both sitting behind leaders Mount Pleasant FA who are on 68 with a game in hand.

The league continues today with three more games, and another three on Thursday, as a number of teams in the lower half of the table continue to scramble for points to retain their place in the competition next season.

Today Portmore United will be seeking a third-straight win when they play away to Harbour View, who they have beaten twice already this season.

Tivoli Gardens will also looking for a third-straight victory when they take on Dunbeholden in the first game of a double-header at Drewsland. A win here would see them return to the top six, while Waterhouse will seek to break a four-game winless run when they host last-placed Vere Phoenix in the second game.

On Monday Montego Bay United played the last 15 minutes, including time added, with only 10 players as, after making all their substitutions, Shaniel Thomas was forced to leave the field after he appeared to dislocate his left shoulder following a hard tackle from Shamari Dyer, who was later booked.

Fabian Reid gave Arnett Gardens the lead in the 11th minute, against the run of play, before Leonardo Rankine equalised in the 43rd minute. However, a mistake by goalkeeper Aaron Enil gifted Shai Smith a goal in time added as Arnett Gardens went into the break leading 2-1.

They were, however, unable to hold on to their advantage as Lucas Lima capitalised on a weak clearance from Arnett Gardens goalkeeper Tyrone Williams to score the equaliser in the 69th minute.

Thelwell, who was filling in for Head Coach for Paul “Tegat” Davis, thought they should have won the game.

“I don’t think it was a fair result. It was a home game, we were playing [the team ahead of us], and we expected to win,” Thelwell told the Jamaica Observer.

“Arnett is a good team. I think they got some half-chances but I think, based on the chances we had in the first half, we should have killed off the game,” Thelwell went on to say. “Our keeper just had an off night as well.”

Montego Bay United kept Arnett Gardens on their heels for long periods with their speed, and Thelwell said it was part of their game plan.

“This game is about transition, and we know Arnett is going to attack in numbers so if we can hit them in transition, that would be good for us.”

While saying he was happy they got “at least a point out of the game”, Gilbert told the Jamaica Observer, “both teams traded punches and could have nicked it so yes, it was a fair result”.

“I’m disappointed with a lot of aspects of how we defended tonight — our backline was too far off from our midfield and I thought that hurt us tonight.”

Gilbert argued that Montego Bay United, with the exception of some crosses and set plays, did not get behind his defence too often, “They are a very physical team and they are good in the air, and we did not deal with that aspect tonight and it hurt us,” he said, adding that they gave up way too many corner kicks.

Both Rankine and Lima were scoring their first goals of the season for Montego Bay United as they rescued a point in what was a pulsating game that saw Referee Christopher Mason issuing six yellow cards.

After soaking up pressure at the start of the game Arnett Gardens took the lead in the 12th minute when Reid, surrounded by three defenders, redirected a cross from the left wing past goalkeeper Enil.

Rankine, who transferred from Mount Pleasant in the January window, drew Montego Bay United level in the 43rd when he headed powerfully into the goal from a corner, just over five minutes after he had failed to get to a ball that rolled across the face of the goal after rebounding off the crossbar.

A bad mistake from Enil three minutes into time added on at the end of the half was punished as Reid snapped up a ball that the goalkeeper failed to hold on to, setting up Smith who smashed it home from close range.

Lima, who had two good chances to score in the first half, pulled Montego Bay United level at 2-2 in the 69th minute when he was first to respond to a ball knocked down by Williams at his right post and fired it back past the goalkeeper.