ARNETT Gardens head coach Paul Davis expressed relief after his team stormed past hosts Harbour View, 3-1, in Wednesday’s Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) match at the Compound.

Captain Rohan Reid (29th min), substitute Jason Moore (38th min) and the wily Fabian Reid (56th min) scored for Arnett, while veteran attacker Fabian Taylor (90th) grabbed a last-ditch consolation goal for Harbour View.

With the win, the Arnett Gardens team, which has been glaringly inconsistent this season, moved up to 25 points — the same as Harbour View.

Davis said he was pleased with Arnett Gardens’ start to the new year and stressed that a lot of effort has gone into improving the camaraderie among squad members.

“It is very good winning this game. We practised on (last) Friday and tried to run off the sorrel that the players had over the Christmas season. I saw a lot of energy and we got three goals.

“My job is on the line because we have lost many games so we have to put effort into getting the cohesiveness back in the team,” said the former national striker.

Davis’ counterpart at Harbour View Donovan Hayles said the loss was disappointing, particularly because his team squandered early chances to score.

“This game is a funny old game and I think on three occasions we got goal scoring chances and didn’t score. Arnett scored and then it was a nightmare…

“It is a disappointing result and I can’t call it anything more than that,” Hayles said.

He insisted that conceding three goals was not a major concern since the Harbour View defence has generally been “solid” and added that the team will rebound from the loss.

“Our defensive record has been good… where we have been having problem is up front. The defence has been solid all season, but this was a night when things didn’t go right around there. Our organisation just did not click. It was one of our poorest games but we have to put that behind us and rebound,” he said.

After a high-tempo start to the game, Harbour View missed the opportunity to the take the lead when midfield maestro Jermaine Hue split the Arnett Gardens defence with an inch-perfect through ball for Zane Goulbourne, who struck his one-time effort straight at goalkeeper Damion Hyatt.

Minutes later, Arnett Gardens went ahead when Rohan Reid capitalised on a loose ball inside Harbour View’s 18-yard box and knocked a weak effort which inexplicably beat ‘keeper Devon Haughton.

Harbour View remained positive, but were again guilty of wastefulness in front of goal when John-Ross Edwards ran onto Taylor’s expertly weighted reverse pass and struck his left-footer too close to Hyatt, who again showed quick reflexes.

The lead was doubled in the 38 minute when Moore’s fiercely struck grounded free-kick flew past Haughton.