ormer Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) campaigners Barbican FC made a brisk start upon the resumption of the Magnum/KSAFA Super League football competition by hammering Rae Town 3-0 in a fourth-round game at Breezy Castle on Saturday.
Andrew Christie, Shaquille Lewis and Jevoni Howell scored to secure the win.
However, fellow former top-flight campaigners Cavalier SC had to settle for a point after they were held to a 0-0 draw with Central Kingston FC in the feature match at Winchester Park.
It was a game of missed chances. Cavalier were the chief offenders, squandering several decent chances. Cavalier were well organised and much faster to the ball.
Oshane Jenkins made some telling forays on the left and made decent crosses but they failed to produce the desired results.
Notwithstanding, much credit must go to the newcomers. Failing 0-1 against Rockfort in their final game before the break, they buckled down to some good team play to avoid back-to-back defeats. They also had moments in front of the goal, but their shooting was untidy.
“We created a number of opportunities. We did not make positive of them and that prevented us from taking the three points. Yes, our defence played very well, but we should have done much better with the number of chances that we created,” said Rudolph Speid, head coach of Cavalier.
Vincent Watson, the Central Kingston head coach, said: “I thought it was a good performance from Central Kingston coming up from the Major League to share the points with Cavalier coming down from the Premier League. They (Cavalier) had more scoring chances than we did, but we fought with the talent that we have and came away with a point.”
Rockfort FC continued their winning run before the break by edging Maxfield Park FC 2-1 at Rockfort playfield with goals from Shevaughn Williams and Calvin Campbell.
Elsewhere, Browns Town FC hosted Shortwood FC at Vauxhall High School and also shared the points after failing to score.
A late strike by Elton Thompson led Tivoli Gardens FC to a fiery 1-0 win over Maverley/Hughenden FC in their Red Stripe Premier League game at the Edward Seaga Sports Complex yesterday.
Thompson popped up in the second minute of time added to tap home after goalkeeper Jovel Plunkett blocked a low grounder from substitute Marvin Stewart into his path.
It was Tivoli Gardens’ seventh win in their last eight games and their 11th overall from 18 matches. It sends them clear into second on 35 points.
The promoted Maverley/Hughenden, who saw their three-game unbeaten run halted, remain in eighth spot on 20 points. They are five points adrift of the final play-off spot.
In front of a packed venue, the game wasn’t the most beautiful one, but very combative, especially with six former Tivoli Gardens players starting for Anthony Patrick-coached Maverley/Hughenden.
It was a crucial psychological home victory for a Tivoli Gardens team that saw their six-game winning streak come to an end before the holiday break. The Omar Edwards-coached outfit remain just three points behind the leaders Montego Bay United. They are three points ahead of The University of the West Indies, who lost 3-5 to Arnett Gardens FC.
Teams:
Tivoli Gardens — Davin Watkins, Shavar Campbell, Barrington Pryce. Romaine Breakenridge, Nicholas Smith, Rohan Reid (Marvin Stewart 69th), Tevin Shaw, Ajuma Johnson (Junior McGregor 67th), Miguel Ricketts, Jermaine Johnson, Elton Thompson (Kemar Seivwright 95th).
Subs not used: Edsel Scott, Rushane Facey, Kevin Graham, Leroy Jones.
A resurgent Arnett Gardens outfit began the New Year on a major high in the Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) as they registered a 5-3 victory over The University of the West Indies (UWI) FC in a lively encounter at Anthony Spaulding Complex yesterday.
It was a game of two tales as the ‘Junglists’ went out in a no-nonsense mood to explode into a dazzling 4-0 lead by the end of the first 45 minutes.
However, the second stanza belonged to the university team who came roaring back, but little too late was the cry in the end.
Leon Strickland (7th), Lennox Russell (28th), Newton Sterling (30th), Oniel Thompson (41st) and Marvin Morgan (57th) charted the course for Arnett Gardens.
Substitutes Patrick Brown (60th minute) and Keammar Daley (62nd), along with Davion Garrison (89th) saved face for UWI.
With the win, Arnett Gardens held firm in sixth position in the 12-team standing with 25 points, while UWI FC, despite the loss, also stayed put in third position on 32 points.
After a fairly quiet start, the hosts signalled intentions when a swerving 25-yard left-footed free kick by Sterling just went by the right upright.
UWI responded with useful build-up of their own, but fell asleep in the defensive quarters and were caught on the break as Arnett Gardens raced into the lead.
Fabian Reid and Morgan combined to orchestrate the counter-attack, with the latter sending in an elusive cross which was met at the far post by an unmarked Strickland, who made no mistake from close range.
They could have extended the lead on two occasions, but Sterling’s tame shot from deep inside the area was parried by custodian Amal Knight in the 16th minute.
Morgan also muffed his effort seven minutes later when arriving at the far post to a weighted cross from Russell.
But with UWI offering very little resistance, Arnett Gardens went on a procession, led by Russell’s beautifully taken left-footed effort on the volley from just inside the 18-yard area.
It became 3-0 two minutes later through Sterling, who delicately chipped a left-footed shot over the head of Knight.
And Captain Oneil “Bigga” Thompson buried what can only be described as a match-winning 30-yard free kick, driven hard and low, to beat Knight at his near post to leave Arnett sitting pretty at the break.
The momentum stuck with the Jerome Waite-coached Arnett Gardens unit as they wasted little time in extending their lead 12 minutes after the resumption.
Morgan was rewarded for his workman-like performance when Strickland returned the favour and assisted him to easily slot past the advancing Knight in the 57th minute.
It is often said that football is a game of glorious uncertainties, and UWI, after introducing Daley and Brown into the attack, took advantage of the complacent Arnett Gardens team and fired back in clinical fashion.
Brown tapped home a loose ball from close range to put UWI back on the score sheet on the hour mark, before Daley secured a second with a well-taken free kick from 25-yards out, which gave custodian Damian Hyatt no chance.
Arnett Gardens would end the contest with 10 players after Morgan picked up a mild concussion and was unable to finish the game. The team had already reached its quota of three substitutions. UWI utilised the numerical advantage to grab a third, courtesy of Garrison, who headed in a weighted cross from Kemar Flemmings a minute from time.
Teams:
Arnett Gardens— Damian Hyatt, Oniel Thompson, Jamar Martin, Jabeur Johnson, Renae Lloyd, Marvin Morgan, Kenniel Hyde, Fabian Reid, Lennox Russell (Lamar Nelson 70th), Newton Sterling (Neicko Williams 35th), Leon Strickland (Tamar Edwards 75th)
Subs not used: Carlloyd Walters, Jason Moore, Chevaun Crooks, Damari Deacon
Booked: Lloyd (63rd), Edwards (85th)
UWI FC— Amal Knight, Rochane Smith, Taniel McKenzie, Kemar Flemmings, Jamie Robinson, Davion Garrison, Ramoun Reid, Deighton Stuart (Patrick Brown 56th), Dawyne Smith (Keammar Daley 56th), Akeem Thenstead (Anthony Greenland 71st), Deno Schaffe
Subs not used: Nicholas King, Kemar Douglas, Kemar Cummings, Jerondy Henry
Booked: Flemmings (45th)
Referee: Dwight Royal
Assistant referees: Keeble Williams, Melvin Reid
Fourth official: Gawane Scott
Match Commissary: Fitzroy Reid
Yesterday’s results
Arnett Gardens 5, UWI 3
Tivoli Gardens 1, Maverley-Hughenden 0
Reno 3, Boys’ Town 0
Jamalco 0, Portmore 1
Montego Bay 2, Waterhouse FC 1
Goals-
Arnett Gardens FC...5 Strickland (7th), Russell (28th), Sterling (30th), Thompson (41st), Morgan (57th) University of the West Indies FC...3 Brown (60th), Daley (62nd), Garrison (89th)
Sandals South Coast dropped points for the first time this season in the Jamaica Football Federation Western Confederation JB Rum Super League after they had to come from behind to earn a 1-1 draw against Montego Bay Boys Club on Saturday as the competition resumed following the Christmas/New Year break.
Sandals South Coast won their previous three games and remain one of three teams who are still unbeaten. The other two are Montego Bay Boys Club and Reggae Youths, who beat Three Miles River for their third-straight win.
The struggles of former champions Wadadah FC continued after they were edged 0-1 by Holland United to lose their fourth-straight Super League game.
To add insult to injury, Wadadah finished the game with 10 players after Ronaldo McLeish was red-carded by referee Delroy Harding less than a minute after he went on in the second half.
At Whitehouse, Montego Bay Boys Club took the lead in the 52nd minute through Michael Thompson and looked well on their way to take all three points before Nicardo Dennis grabbed the equaliser two minutes into stoppage time at the end of the game.
At WesPow Park in Tucker, O’Carey Spence scored twice to bring his goal tally to five, leading Reggae Youths to a 2-0 win over promoted Three Miles River.
Spence scored in the 18th and 75th minutes as Reggae Youths raced to 10 points and lead Zone One.
Despite a morale-boosting win over Faulkland FC in a St James FA Knockout game a week before, Wadadah FC went down to Holland United, who were getting their first points of the season.
Nelson Adams’ 35th- minute goal was the difference between the clubs, and Wadadah FC’s plight was made even more difficult after McLeish, who was subbed on in the 72nd minute, was sent off almost immediately after he lashed out at an opponent.
Promoted Hopewell United earned a point away to Beaches Negril at the Long Bay Beach Park thanks to a stoppage-time goal from Hitola Gardener.
Kemar Dawkins had given Beaches the lead in the 45th minute with his third goal of the season but the Green Island High schoolboy made sure his team took home a point when he equalised a minute into stoppage time.
MONTEGO BAY, St James — Teams Faulkland FC of St James and Three Miles River of Westmoreland will make their first-ever appearance in a Jamaica Football Federation’s (JFF) Western Confederation Charlie’s JB Rum Super League game today as the season kicks off with a triple-header at Jarrett Park, starting at 3:00 pm.
Faulkland FC have moved smoothly through the St James league, earning promotion every year for the last three seasons after winning the Division One and Senior League the last two seasons, and will face last season’s beaten finalists Sandals Whitehouse in the 5:00 pm game.
Three Miles River won the Westmoreland Major League last season for their first-ever title at that level and will kick off the season against Trelawny’s Clark’s Town, the beaten mid-season finalists last year.
Defending champions Granville FC of St James will open their defence against another promoted team, Hopewell United of Hanover, in the 7:00 pm feature
Granville FC win their third title last season beating Sandals Whitehouse on penalty kicks in the final at Jarrett Park, but failed to make it past the JFF Premier League play-offs and will line-up in the 12 team league, seeking back-to-back titles.
The other games in the first round will be played on Tuesday; former champions Wadadah FC take on Montego Bay Boys Club in a St James derby at the UDC field, Beaches Negril host Reggae Youths at Long Bay Beach Park, and Petersfield FC host Trelawny’s Holland United — the fourth promoted team.
The Jamaica Observer has learned that former national captain Donovan Ricketts has taken over as coach at Wadadah FC, replacing his brother Daniel.
Twelve teams will compete for the title and the right to contest the Premier League play-offs, and will face each other twice before the top two in each zone advance to the semi-finals.
The top teams on points after the first round will also meet in a mid-season play-off.
Granville FC, Beaches Negril, Clarks Town, Reggae Youths, Three Miles River and Hopewell FC will play in Zone One; while Sandals Whitehouse, Wadadah FC, Petersfield FC, Montego Bay Boys Club, Holland United and Faulkland FC will be in a tough-looking Zone Two.
St James clubs make up nearly half of all the clubs ,taking part with five — Granville FC, Reggae Youths, Wadadah FC, Montego Bay Boys and Girls Club as well as Faulkland FC.
Westmoreland account for four: Sandals Whitehouse, Beaches Negril, Petersfield and Three Miles River. Trelawny will have two teams in Clarks Town and Holland United who are returning after a one-year absence, while Hanover will have just Hopewell United, (formerly Bamboo United) who are returning to the league.
Shame the men's team was abandoned. Go Los Perfectos women's team!
Persons known so far: Edward(Echo) Paul Barnaby, Martin Campbell, Richard (Potcover) McDonald, Patrick Hayashida, Rhona Martin, Howard Martin, Melvin (Jackie Bell) Wallace and Johnny pecker.
![[Image: vere-tech1.jpg]](https://www.footballjamaica.com/assets/vere-tech1.jpg)
![[Image: jdf-champs-1984-1985.jpg]](https://www.footballjamaica.com/assets/jdf-champs-1984-1985.jpg)
![[Image: JDF-Championship-Team.jpg]](https://www.footballjamaica.com/assets/JDF-Championship-Team.jpg)
![[Image: windsor-united-superleague-champion-1988.jpg]](https://www.footballjamaica.com/assets/windsor-united-superleague-champion-1988.jpg)
![[Image: Los-Perfectos-80s.jpg]](https://www.footballjamaica.com/assets/Los-Perfectos-80s.jpg)
