7 months ago
13
DWAYNE ATKINSON scored twice as Cavalier came from behind twice to draw 2-2 with Arnett Gardens in the feature Monday night Jamaica Premier League (JPL) game at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex.
Fabian Reid fired Arnett in front after eight minutes but Atkinson tied the score minutes later, converting a penalty in the 16th minute.
Warner Brown restored Arnett’s advantage with a thumping header after 25 minutes but, again, Atkinson capitalised on a defensive blunder to equalise for a second time three minutes before half-time.
Second-place Arnett moved to 66 points, one clear of Montego Bay United in third place, while Cavalier are fifth on 49.
Cavalier coach Rudolph Speid praised his talisman Atkinson, who has been plagued by injuries this season.
“Again, Atkinson is just coming back. This is the best and fittest he has been since the Caribbean Cup final.
“He was always injured and trying to get back. He scored two goals today. He is not voted the best player in the Caribbean for nothing. He is really good,” Speid commented.
Cavalier have not won any of their last two games, and Speid believes the win was there for the taking, nevertheless, he said, they were finding their rhythm once again.
“I was really please with what we did offensively. I thought we could have nicked it in the second half. We got some opportunities that we should have done better with.
“But we are coming into some form and we are going to be hard to handle attackingwise. It’s just to iron out the kinks in defence and we will be good,” he added.
Arnett surged into the lead when Reid fired home on a second attempt after goalkeeper Jaedine White saved his initial effort from a corner.
However, Cavalier equalised moments later, after Shane Watson needlessly brought down Jerome inside the box.
Brown would restore Arnett’s lead midway the half, rising above the Cavalier defence and planting a header past White.
Cavalier and Atkinson would respond again moments before the break when Joel Jones was indecisive and lost possession to Jamilhio Rigters, who played in Atkinson for his second of the night.
Shaquille Stein came close to giving Cavalier the lead just before half-time, but his header crashed against the bar and back into play.
Both teams had a couple of good chances to grab the points in the second half, but failed to make the most of the opportunities.
Arnett coach Xavier Gilbert said his team gave Cavalier two goals, and gave away two points.
“I am disappointed we didn’t get three points tonight. We did some good things and enough to have won the game.
“Tactically, we were smart. We didn’t give them any good looks at our goal. But we also did some things really badly and it cost us the game. And, to me, that was the difference,” he said.
English (US) ·