The fruits of Arnett Gardens FC’s labour are gradually bearing in the 2015-16 Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) season, much to the delight of Head Coach Jerome Waite.

Waite was left beaming with joy on Sunday following his team’s enthralling 2-1 win over rivals Montego Bay United on match day 20 at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex.

The ‘Junglists’ exhibited an inspiring all-round performance, which was very much appreciated by the large home crowd, as they secured their fifth consecutive win.

The champions secured all three points courtesy of first-half goals from Vishinul Harris (15th) and Dicoy Williams (22nd). Ronaldo Rodney pulled one back for Montego Bay United in the 46th minute.

“This is something that we have been working assiduously for and the amount of work that was done throughout the week is now paying off and it shows that these players are really true champions,” Waite told the Jamaica Observer in a post-match interview.

With the win, Arnett Gardens briefly moved to the summit of the 12-team standing on 38 points, but were later pushed to second position by former champions Portmore United, who moved to 40 points with victory over Harbour View in the Monday Night feature.

Sunday’s fixture was a repeat of last season’s championship final, and following the team’s 2-2 draw in the first round at Montego Bay Sports Complex, the platform was set for a hotly contested, tactical battle.

Fans were not left disappointed as both teams gave as good as they got, with Arnett Gardens proving the more dominant outfit in the opening 45 minutes. They went to the break with a two-goal cushion.

Montego Bay United pulled one back almost immediately upon the resumption, and could have ended with a share of the spoils, but were prevented by custodian Damian Hyatt, who blocked Dino Williams’ 89th-minute penalty.

Waite expressed pleasure at the pace displayed throughout the contest.

“It was a good, tactically played game by both teams. These are the two best attacking teams in the competition and today proved that these two teams have quality offensive players. The game started at such an electrifying pace and I am pleased that we were able to dominate that period,” Waite noted.

He continued: “We hard-pressed the defence and found in the opener and the second half we came out flat…[there was] complacency as it relates to the goalkeeper giving up a soft goal, but he was the one that came up big to make the difference in the game.

“It was an excellent game in the end because MoBay, as I identified, came up with four strikers and they moved one defender into attack. So it was a situation of nullifying their offensive strategy, while continuing to create as many chances and we did that.”