All to play for: Cavalier, Arnett draw 1-1 in first leg of semi-finals

A LATE strike from leading scorer Warner Brown earned Arnett Gardens a 1-1 draw with defending champions Cavalier in the first leg of their Jamaica Premier League semi-final tie at the Montego Bay Sports Complex last night.

Cavalier’s Jerome McLeary produced a moment of brilliance in the 26th minute when he scored his second goal of the season to give his team a 1-0 lead. In the second half, Brown scored from close range in the 80th minute to register his 22nd goal of the season.

Cavalier’s head coach, Rudolph Speid, said the team needed to be sharper to get the win in the first leg.

“This is our 96th game in one year and 10 months, and we were not able to put away some of the chances we got. It is not the best result but not the worst either,” Speid said.

Both teams appeared to be nervous in the opening exchanges of the first half, but they soon settled down. With ball possession even, Cavalier and Arnett Gardens then produced three shots on target each during the first half with McLeary’s goal the difference between the two teams.

In the second half, Arnett came out more organised and showed more composure on the ball.

Xavier Gilbert, coach of Arnett, said he was disappointed with his team’s overall performance.

“We have to do better at this level. Cavalier did not show anything that we didnt expect or spoke about. We played too slow and right into their hands,” Gilbert said.

He added, “We, however, played a fantastic game in the second half. For Sunday’s second leg we have to ensure we are fit and give a better performance.”

Owen Hill, president of JPL, said last night that the organisation was delighted to stage the opening-leg semi-finals in western Jamaica.

“Playing a game of this magnitude on this side of the island gives fans an opportunity to experience the JPL. We have always planned on expanding, which is a part of the mandate. It is definitely to get football across the length and breath of the country,” Hill said.

The second leg of the semi-finals will be played on Sunday, May 18, at Sabina Park.