A late strike from Andrew Vanzie sent Jamaica’s Red Stripe Premier League champions Arnett Gardens crashing to their second consecutive defeat after going down 0-1 to Humble Lion at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex in a night game on Monday.

The victory has seen the teams switching places with Humble Lion, who lost the championship to Arnett Gardens last season, moving up one place to third on 26 points, while Arnett Gardens have dropped to fourth on 23.

The game was truly competitive, both teams being wasteful in front of goal with Arnett Gardens being more so as the game see-sawed with goal-to-goal action for much of its duration. It was from such an overwhelming situation in front of the Humble Lion goal mouth that Arnett Gardens allowed their visitors to escape and enabled Vanzie to get on the end of a long ball out of defence.

And seizing the opportunity, he outsped the Arnett Gardens defence to catch goalkeeper Damian Hyatt off his line, then thumped a highball in the second minute of time added out of his reach to register the narrow win.

“It was a glorious victory and a very good one at that. Though I thought we were a bit lucky, especially in the first half,” Humble Lion Coach Vassell Reynalds said.

Arnett Coach Jerome Waite said although his team was up against one of the best defensive units in the league, his team failed to win because it failed to press home the goalscoring advantages it created.

 “We were up against the best defensive unit in the top league… therefore, whenever the opportunity is created to punish them, it should not be wasted,” Waite pointed out.

Teams:

Arnett Gardens FC — Damian Hyatt, Jamar Martin, Dicoy Williams, Jabeur Johnson, Renae Lloyd (Neicko Williams 75th), Jahmeel Thompson, Jason Moore, Vishinul Harris, Kemal Malcolm, Leon Strickland (Kenniel Hyde 76th), Steve Clarke (Marcelino Blackburn 59th).

Subs not used: Peter Harrison, Kenarado Smith, Jarmar Jackson, Andrew Phang

Booked: Clarke (52nd), Williams (71st)  

Humble Lion — Kadeem Davis, Francois Swaby, Ajuran Brown, Ricardo Cambell, Jermaine Christian, Levaughn Williams (Kemiel Wolfe 65th), Hugh Howell, Kevaughn Isaacs, (Kadian Wynter 82nd), Andrew Vanzie, Wolry Wolfe (Ricardo Cousins 61st), Gregory Lewis.

Subs not Used: Alien Whittaker, Kevon Reid, Roberto Fletcher, Dwayne Campbell

Booked: W Wolfe (31st), Howell 90+2

Referee: Karl Tyrell

Assistant Referees: Lloyd Reader, Damian Williams

Fourth Official: Oshane Nation

Match Commissioner: Garfield McDonald 

— Hurbun Williams