Arnett bag Bell KO in pulsating finale

BY HOWARD WALKER Observer Senior Reporter walkerh@jamaicaobserver.com

Friday, February 17, 2012

ARNETT Gardens captured the Jamaica Yellow Pages/Kingston and St Andrew Football Association (KSAFA) Jackie Bell Knock-out title after their 5-3 penalty-kick win over Boys' Town at the Waterhouse Mini-Stadium on Wednesday night.

Both teams played to a dramatic 2-2 draw in normal and extra-time where Boys' Town's Oneil "Bigga" Thompson missed a penalty in the first period of extra-time — in the 100th minute.

Arnett became the first team to win the newly-sponsored KO silverware and became the most successful team in the history of the competition, with their sixth lien on the Corporate Area trophy.

Dethroned champions Harbour View have won the contest on five occasions, with Tivoli Gardens and Waterhouse successful on three occasions each.

The Paul "Tegat" Davis-coached Arnett won in 1990, 1992, 1995, 1999 and 2005, and with this year's trophy in the bag, walked away with $350,000.

Beaten finalists Boys' Town collected $200,000 for their effort, while Tivoli Gardens, who lost in the semifinal to the eventual champions, will pocket $150,000, Harbour View will get $100,000 for fourth place.

It was Arnett's second trophy of the season following their KSAFA Champions League triumph in August when they defeated Waterhouse, 3-2.

Davis was happy to be the first coach to win the newly-sponsored trophy and now trains his eyes on a top six Premier League spot.

"We wanted to get the sixth title and seeing that Yellow Pages just came on board, we wanted to stamp our name on it first," he revealed to the Observer, as his charges celebrated wildly.

He added: "It's the first time Arnett Gardens were winning two cups and the guys did a beautiful job. But right now, I want to be in the top six and I believe next season we can win the league."

Meanwhile, Lester Garnett, Jamaica manager, Global Directories Limited, was on hand to witness the pulsating final in which two late goals had fans on the edge of their seats.

"It was a wonderful game... it brings the communities together and it shows that the local communities can strive to make things much better and Jamaica Yellow Pages is pleased to be a part of that," said Garnett.

Global Directories Limited, through the Jamaica Yellow Pages, has pumped $12 million over three years into the competition.

"We have got a lot of comments from local people that we are here and we are pleased that we are a part of their communities," he added.

In front of a packed venue, the in-form Newton Sterling headed Arnett Gardens in front in the sixth, but goals by substitute Rafeik Thomas and Renae Lloyd in the 74th and 90th put Boys' Town on the cusp of victory.

However, Leon Strickland popped up to tap home with basically the last kick of normal time in the 90+4 minute, sending the game into extra-time.

Captain Kirk Ramsey, Newton Sterling, Rohan Reid, Nackwayne Parchment and Gerald Neil all scored from the spot for Arnett Gardens, who last season lost 4-5 on penalties to Harbour View.

Rafeik Thomas, who scored the equalising goal for Boys' Town, missed the only penalty for his team. Michael Campbell, Renae Lloyd and Daemion Benjamin all scored in a losing effort.