By Paul-Andre Walker, Staff ReporterRIVOLI UNITED'S hunt for the top four in the Wray and Nephew National Premier League was slowed yesterday when they ran into a 0-0 stalemate against seasons strugglers Arnett Gardens at Prison Oval.
In a game that should have had a result, Rivoli were fortunate not to find themselves on the losing side of a battle that saw both Walter Boyd and Leon Strickland missing opportunities they would have given a finger for a second grab at.
Early in the match-up, while Rivoli could boast of having more of the football, Arnett's attacks were more incisive and they looked like they would have been the first to disturb the deadlock.
However, as the game progressed Rivoli came into their own, stringing a number of passes together and looking a good team, despite missing Mark Wisdom, Ricardo Knight, Garfield Reid and Waheem Walker.
SHORT-STAFFED
Arnett were short-staffed as well, without the likes of Cornell Chin-Sue, and having to play a badly injured Keith Kelly. Arnett's problems were compounded mid-way through the second half when their mainstay, centre-half Wayne Ellis, was red carded for striking Rivoli's Sean Coleman during a tackle.
With regular starters in the back-line Alex Thomas and Shane Stevens absent it was a battle for the 'Junglists to stay alive.
Stay alive they did, and could have scored a number of goals with Boyd glancing a point-blank header wide of a goal.
Earlier, Strickland was the recipient of two glorious opportunities where he was through on goal with only the 'keeper to beat, shooting wide on both occasions.
"We had opportunities in the first half that we should have capitalised on but those failures came back to haunt us," said disappointed Arnett coach, Jerome Waite.
As for Rivoli, the result means they do not gain any ground on the top four but rather, lost some ground to Village who now join both Waterhouse and Rivoli on 47 points at fifth in the standings.
Rivoli coach Bradley Stewart, despite the struggle that the draw has put them in, was not dissatisfied with the result.
"I know of some of the problems that Arnett are facing and I must give them credit for their performance. Rivoli also have their injury and suspension problems too and that affected our game but the guys performed well under the circumstances and with Waterhouse drawing with Star Cosmos we are still in the mix," he said.
