August Town shocker!
August Town proved third time lucky after coming from behind to whip Arnett Gardens 4-2 in their Digicel Premier League encounter at the UWI Bowl yesterday.
August Town rallied from two goals down to secure a crucial win after coach Calvert Fitzgerald stepped aside following last week’s game against Village United.
August Town, who conceded late goals to draw 1-1 with Harbour View and 2-2 with Village United, had Lady Luck on their side this time.
In another early result yesterday, Waterhouse edged Humble Lions 2-1 at Effortville Community Centre courtesy of goals from Kevin Lamey (4th) and Kenardo Forbes (49th). Kevin Mighty responded for the home team in the 88th minute. And at Lynch Park in Portland, Oneil McDonald’s 92nd minute striker was enough to give Boys’ Town three points against St Georges SC.
At the UWI Bowl, Kevin ‘Pele’ Wilson gave Arnett a 13th-minute lead before Kevin King, who scored a three-timer in their first meeting, doubled the advantage in the 16th.
At that point, Arnett were all over the home team and it looked as if August Town were in for another whipping especially with young St Andrew Technical High School (STATHS) goalkeeper Deigo Haughton deputising for his suspended brother Devon.
Captain and former Arnett Gardens’ player Asphas Bernard pulled one back for August Town in the 30th minute, in a half totally dominated by a Arnett team that should have beeen leading by at least four clear goals if they had taken all their chances.
Assistant coach Dwight Morgan must have said something right during the interval and August Town came out full of running and deservedly levelled the score in the 65th minute from a peach of a free kick from Rohan McDonald.
The stocky left back unleashed a ferocious 35-metre kick that whistled past the hapless Leighton Murray in goal.
But as much as it was a brilliant strike, Murray should take some blame to be beaten from that distance. He never got anywhere close to the ball.
The momentum was clearly with August Town and they duly took the lead when centre half Rasheede Clarke handed Kemel Mullings an early Christmas gift in the 88th minute.
Mullings intercepted Clarke’s diagonal cross, skipped by the last defender and slipped the ball wide of the advancing goalkeeper.
After moving the ball around sweetly, August Town put the icing on the cake when substitute Jermaine Simpson nodded home in the 92nd minute.
It was sweet revenge for August Town after losing 1-4 to Arnett on October 11. It was also August Town’s first win since their 2-1 win over Portmore United on November 22 and only their third overall from 18 games.
They moved to 15 points, the same as both Humble Lions and Village United, but remained at the bottom based on their inferior goal difference.
For Arnett, it was their third loss in their last five games which keep them seventh spot on 19 points.
Following the game, the travelling Arnett fans vented their anger at club president Patrick Roberts and coach Davis demanding that heads should roll for the embarrassing defeat.
Teams:
August Town — Deigo Haughton, Dean Paul Grandison, Kevin Henziel, Ajuran Brown, Mervin Miller, Rohan McDonald, Raymond Williamson, Mark Grant (Akeem Theanstead 65th), Asphas Bernard (Jermaine Simpson 82nd), Kemel Mullings, Nicholas Smith (Terrence Allen 76th).
Subs not used: Omaro Simms, Ezekeil Shaw, Donovan Bernard, Kemar Cockburn.
Booked: Brown (22nd), Mervin Miller (89th)
Arnett Gardens — Leighton Murray, Anthowe Dawkins, Ricardo Smith, Rasheede Clarke, Gerald Neil, Cornel ChinSue, Dennis McKinley, Kevin King, Kwame Richardson, Leon Strickland (Severo Murphy 82nd), Kevin Wilson.
Subs not used: Damion Hyatt, Lennox Creary, Dwayne Plummer, William Richards, Loxley Thomas, Nico Collins.
Booked: Dawkins (86th)
Referee: Courtney Campbell
Assistant referees: Stacy-Ann Greyson, Shane Harrison
Fourth Official: Carvel Banton
Match Commissary: Uken Campbell
Assessor: Trevor Gordon