Nodley Wright, Freelance Writer
Arlington's Dwayne Gowe. - IAN ALLEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
ARLINGTON PULLED off the improbable yesterday when playing with nine men for most of the game, they defeated Village 2-0 at the Elliston Wakeland Centre.
Valentine Gardner opened the scoring in the 58th minute, while Dwayne Gowe sealed the issue for the already relegated team in the 83rd minute.
Arlington president Everton Foster, who was in good spirits for most of the game said: "Today was a luck game. Village got a number of chances and did not score. We were playing for pride and the good Man above saw that we needed the three points to make us look good."
Village's Dr. Dean Weatherly said that his team underrated the opposition and as a result came out flat and paid for it.
"When it was time to lift our game it was too late. When they started trying the horse was already gone through the gate and being young it was difficult for them to do."
It was not a beautiful game by any stretch of the imagination. The events before seemed to give a taste of what was to come as Village threw the gates open and still managed to have less than 200 spectators, while Arlington arrived with just 10 players.
Despite the lacklustre nature of the game, Gardner managed to stand out as he showed good skill and a lot of hunger.
Gardner managed to get himself in good scoring positions in the first half but had a hat-trick of misses as good goalkeeping from Allien Whittaker denied him.
When Godfrey Brown was dismissed in the 25th minute things looked dim for Arlington and Village went close in the 31st minute. Captain Gregory Simpson, who would follow Brown off the field for a similar offence in the second half, struck a torrid left-footer which struck the right upright and rebounded kindly for Andre Lee, who kicked high from inside the six-yard box.
ANOTHER MISS
Village were to have another miss in the 39th minute when Delroy Ellis shot wide from the top of the 18-yard box.
Despite playing with nine men Arlington started the half with more promise. Gardner turned their promise into reality when he broke from inside his own half to collect a lovely pass played to him.
He shook off a challenge and played the ball to his right to the pint-sized Locksley Thompson who rounded Whittaker, who had advanced in a bid to protect his goal. Having disposed of Whittaker, Thompson passed the ball back to Gardner who scored past two defenders who had taken up positions in the goal.
Gowe sealed the victory when he ran away from Andrew Walker to fire a left-footer under the body of the diving Whittaker.
