
Leading goalscorer Warner Brown led the charge with a sensational hat-trick as Arnett Gardens produced a remarkable second-half comeback to defeat Tivoli Gardens 5-3 in an electrifying Wray & Nephew Jamaica Premier League showdown at Stadium East on Monday.
Brown, who netted in the 70th, 72nd, and 78th minutes, took his season tally to 13 goals as he surged to the top of the Golden Boot race. Joel Jones (27th) and Fabian Reid (90+4) also found the net for the ‘Junglists,’ as they reclaimed second place in the standings with 45 points, seven adrift of leaders Mount Pleasant FA.
Montego Bay United (44), Portmore United (38), Cavalier FC (37), and Waterhouse (34) currently occupy the other important spots in the playoff race.
Tivoli Gardens, who had led 3-1 early in the second half, saw their advantage—courtesy of goals from Nickalia Fuller (25th), Roshawn Oldfield (36th), and Tkiven Garnett (47th)—erased in stunning fashion. The West Kingston team, now winless in four matches, remain eighth on 27 points.
Winning coach Xavier Gilbert was delighted with the manner in which his team fought to the end.
“I thought we were very lethargic at the start and we did not have enough energy, and so they outmuscled us and we were behind. But it is good that we had to fight; we made some adjustments, and it worked for us because once our players get going, it is difficult sometimes to manage us when we are running at teams, so I am proud of the way the guys acquitted themselves, and we look to build on this type of gritty performance going forward,” Gilbert said in a post-game interview.
His counterpart Jerome Waite was livid that his defensive unit, in particular, lost shape and discipline when it mattered most.
“This is the worst I have seen a defence play at this level. There are so many things we can talk about, but these players have to understand that if you are playing top-flight, it can be a joke thing where we allow players to do as they like. If you noticed the defensive organization went and people having an attitude, but that is something that we will have to take the time out and deal with,” Waite noted.
Tivoli Gardens started brightly and applied pressure to Arnett Gardens defence as Oldfield rattled the crossbar in the early exchanges. Their persistence paid off in the 25th minute, when Fuller skipped past a marker and unleashed a fierce left-footed drive from outside the area that left goalkeeper Jadavin Waul with no chance.
However, Arnett Gardens hit back swiftly. Just two minutes later, Jones rose above the Tivoli Gardens defence to nod home from a well-weighted Rushike Kelson corner to level things at 1-1.
Still, Tivoli maintained the ascendancy as they bossed possession and almost went ahead in the 33rd, but Waul pulled off a fine save to deny Fuller’s right-footed shot.
They eventually regained the lead three minutes later, when Barrington Pryce’s glancing header rebounded off the post and fell kindly for Oldfield, who made no mistake from close range.
Tivoli Gardens should have extended their advantage before halftime, but Steve Clarke, from close range, fired his right-footer over the crossbar.
Arnett Gardens almost pulled level once again, but Chevany Willis’ 43rd-minute free kick clipped the crossbar as Tivoli remained 2-1 up at the break.
Tivoli Gardens continued their relentless attack on the resumption and opened a two-goal cushion two minutes in when Garnett latched onto Clarke’s pass across the 18-yard box and fired past Waul, who made a weak attempt at a save to make it 3-1.
With the game slipping away, Arnett Gardens required a moment of brilliance as they pressed forward but failed to make the most of their half-chances. However, the game took a dramatic turn in the final 20 minutes, which belonged to Warner and Arnett Gardens.
The ‘Junglists’ ignited the comeback when Jones’ header from a Jamone Shepherd’s corner was saved by goalkeeper Diego Haughton, but Brown reacted quickest to fire home the rebound.
Two minutes later, Reid’s perfectly weighted pass caused a mix-up between Haughton and his defender, and Brown pounced to squeeze in his for his second of the night and level the contest at 3-3.
As Arnett continued to pile on the pressure, Tivoli were reduced to 10 men in the 75th minute when Malik Cockings dragged down Brown on a breakaway. Referee Nerissa Goldson had no hesitation in awarding the penalty and issuing a straight red card.
Brown then converted the 12-yard kick to complete his hat-trick and put Arnett Gardens in front. He nearly grabbed his fourth goal in the 88th minute, but Haughton pulled off a smart save to deny him.
However, Arnett sealed the emphatic victory in stoppage time when Reid powered home a right-footed shot after a neat pass from Brown as Tivoli Gardens were left to reflect on a painful collapse that highlighted their defensive frailties.
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