A well-taken hat-trick by teenager Cleo Clarke assisted Humble Lion FC to a handsome 6-0 win over already relegated Lime Hall Academy in a lopsided Wray and Nephew Jamaica Premier League (WNJPL) contest at Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex on Monday. 

Clarke, a former Garvey Maceo stalwart, struck in the 28th, 43rd and 45th minutes, as his first hat-trick at the senior level laid the platform for the victory, which was completed by Andre Clennon (65th), Tajay McCarthy (84th) and Chandol Anderson (89th).

In truth, the scoreline should have been much wider had Humble Lion's forwards been more composed in the final third, as Lime Hall Academy offered very little resistance defensively and nothing whatsoever on the attacking front.

With the win, the Clarendon-based Humble Lion jumped to 10th on 25 points, while the St Ann-based Lime Hall Academy remain rooted at the foot of the 14-team standing on seven points with their relegation fate already sealed.

Humble Lion's Head coach Linval Wilson, who recently took over from Vassell Reynolds, praised the effort of the younger players in particular.

"We basically played a number of youngsters and I thought we played some quality football this evening, we should have had some more goals but that is a part of the game. We got six and we are grateful. We are really on a rebuilding process, and I have to give credit to the players that were actually there before, they harnessed a lot of young quality players and that's what we really needed at Humble Lion, and I think come next season, we will be competing for the championship," Wilson said in a post-match interview.

Having started purposefully against a lethargic Lime Hall outfit, it was only a matter of time before Humble Lion broke the deadlock, which they did a little before the half-hour mark. Clarke won possession and waltzed his way past the last defender before firing past Jahiem Williams in goal for Lime Hall.

Humble Lion continued to apply pressure and inevitably doubled the lead in the 43rd when Clarke pounced on a loose ball and drove home a left-footer past the hapless Williams, who barely attempted to make a save.

They almost had a third two minutes later, but James Thomas's right-footed effort from outside box off, came back off the upright.

However, Thomas turned provider seconds later, as he played Clarke through and the 19-year-old striker completed his hat-trick when he made space for a left-footer that rolled past Williams, who made a meal of what should have been an easy gather. 

Humble Lion picked up where they left off on the resumption and almost added to their tally 10 minutes in, but Williams produced a rare save when he pushed Fabian Pascoe's effort from a distance unto the crossbar.

Still, Humble Lion found a fourth 10 minutes later through Clennon, who fired home from close range after substitute Kareem Bryan player a pass across the face of goal.

Humble Lion went close in the 75th, but Lime Hall's defenders, with a rare show of defiance, threw their bodies on the line to deny their opponents a fifth at that point.

McCarthy eventually found Humble Lion's fifth when he slipped by defender and calmly slotted home, before Anderson completed the score –which is the hallmark of a popular recreational activity – when he converted from an angle.

Though disappointed, Lime Hall's Head coach Oshane Allen, who suited up for his team, is optimistic that they can end their failed top-flight outing on a high.

"It's another tough loss but we have to just take it as it is. The aim is just to try to get maximum points from the remaining games, even if it is just to finish ahead of Treasure Beach," Allen noted.

Fabian Reid and Chevany Willis both scored twice, as Arnett Gardens produced one of, if not, their most dominant display of the Wray and Nephew Jamaica Premier League (WNJPL) season in a 5-1 win over Humble Lion at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex on Monday.

After a lukewarm win over Lime Hall Academy last week, Head coach Xavier Gilbert requested more from his team, particularly in the attacking third with the intent of making their South St Andrew base a fortress heading into the business end of the season. The "Junglists" responded with aplomb, as they were rampant from start to finish in extending their unbeaten run across five games.

Though they had to come from behind after Afiba Chambers gave Humble Lion a ninth-minute lead, Arnett Gardens were comfortable in the end as Willis scored a header and a delightful freekick in the 39th and 84th, while Reid's double in the 69th and 75th were also well taken, with Jaheim Thomas (59th) in on the act of the five-star performance that gave the moderate crowd much to cheer about.

Despite not getting on the score sheet, Rushike Kelson was also among the highlights of Arnett Gardens' classy execution, as he proved menacing to their Clarendon-based opponents’ backline with timely runs coupled with a consistent show of nippy footwork on the right channel.

"It was good. I thought we played well, but disappointed that we conceded a goal from another set piece, and we have to defend better. But nevertheless, we rose to the occasion, and I think we dominated possession and created quite a number of opportunities in both halves, so it was a deserved win for the gentlemen tonight (Monday).

"I thought he [Kelson] and Jaheim were good, especially in the first half and it’s unfortunate that Rushike didn't score. But Willis was a deserved man of the match with first half equaliser and that wonderful freekick at the end. So, we were a lot better offensively and it showed with the number of goals we scored," Gilbert said in a post-match interview. 

With the win, Arnett Gardens provisionally moved up to third on 45 points, same as second-placed Portmore United and Cavalier, with goal difference separating the three. Cavalier who started the Matchweek in second, slipped to fourth after their 0-1 loss to Portmore United in the curtain-raiser at the venue. 

Reigning champions Mount Pleasant (49 points), with Tivoli Gardens (42 points) and Dunbeholden FC (34 points), occupying the other playoff positions.

Given the close nature of business in the top half of the standings, Gilbert is well aware of the quality that their rivals possess but backs his team to remain competitive going forward.

“Our chance is as good as everybody it’s going to be tough, we know it’s not going to be easy, so we just have to maximise on our potential and the opportunities that we create, as well as tighten up on areas that needs strengthening. So that is what we are going to focus on in the next couple of weeks leading up to the playoffs,” Gilbert noted.

It was a frantic start to the contest for Arnett Gardens, who signalled intentions in the sixth minute, when Thomas rifled a right-footed effort into the upright. But it was Humble Lion that broke the deadlock three minutes later when Chambers applied an acrobatic finish to an Andrew Vanzie corner.

Instead of riding the momentum from the goal, Humble Lion were forced on the defensive as Arnett Gardens applied consistent pressure through Reid and Kelson, who tested Hasani Barnes on a few occasions, but the Humble Lion custodian proved equal to the task.

The “Junglists” thought they were back on level terms in the 32^nd when Kelson again showed nippy footwork to dismiss two defenders, but his intended shot caught the arm of Reid on its way in and the goal was disallowed by referee Oshane Nation.

However, they inevitably pulled one seven minutes later when Willis rose highest to head home a weighted cross from Joel Jones. They should have gone to the break in front, but Thomas’s stinging right-footer from deep inside the 18-yard box, was tipped unto the crossbar by Barnes, who ensured the score remained 1-1 at the break.

Still, Arnett Gardens were in no mood to relent, as they maintained their momentum on the resumption with Thomas getting another effort from the top of the 18-yard box on target, but Barnes again did well to parry.

Given the marauding nature in which Arnett Gardens were attacking, it was only a matter of time before they found lead, which they eventually did when Kelson provided a pass for 20-year-old Thomas to fire past Barnes.

Kelson went close a few minutes later, but his effort was kept out by Barnes. From there, it was time for the Reid show, as the veteran striker went on a break and fired past the advancing Barnes in the 69^th, and later registered his ninth goal of the season when he sidewined his way past a defender to create space for a thumping finish to put Arnett Gardens 4-0 up at that point.

The fact that he opened the scoring for Arnett Gardens, it was only fitting that Willis capped the win, and he did so in dazzling fashion when he drove one of his trademark free kicks from just over 30 yards out past Barnes, who was beaten all ends up.

Linval Wilson, who took the reins from Vassell Reynolds at Humble Lion felt the team’s loss was a result of poor defending.

“When you make those mistakes playing Arnett Gardens at home you are going to get punished and that’s what happens. When you look at the goals, they were just some simple errors in crucial areas, so when you’re playing against a class team this is what happens, we just lapsed in concentration,” Wilson said.

Results

Portmore United 1, Cavalier 0

Arnett Gardens 5, Humble Lion 1