Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter
Arnett Garden's Jonathan Williams (partially hidden) tussles for possession with Wadadah goalscorer Rohan Reid (right) in action from their Wray and Nephew National Premier League encounter at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex yesterday. The game ended in a 2-2 draw. - CARLINGTON WILMOT/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
KWAME RICHARDSON struck seconds before the final whistle to rescue a valuable point for Arnett Gardens, allowing them to salvage a hard-fought 2-2 draw with Wadadah in Wray and Nephew National Premier League second-round action yesterday.
Despite the point on the road for Wadadah it was bitter disappointment as a Jermaine Anderson header in the 89th minute looked to have capped off a perfect come-from-behind victory for the visitors from the West.
WADADAH'S COACH UPSET
"I am very upset that we gave up these two points. We should have stolen the game, we had our chances and Arnett played a good game, but we just gave it away," lamented a bitterly disappointed Anthony Williams, coach of the Wadadah team.
"We should have sealed the game from the first half we had our chances but we did not put them away and as a coach this is always a concern," he said.
Following a scoreless first half, it was the home team which sprang into action through Richardson when he netted the first of his two goals.
He profited from the ingenuity of Kevin Wilson, who had previously found himself with at least two clear opportunities to put his team ahead, broke away from his defender in the box to fire towards goal. His shot was parried by Wadadah custodian Gavin Barrett, but the ball would once again end up with Wilson who rolled the ball across the goal for an easy Richardson tap in.
SOLID MIDFIELD PLAY
However, Wadadah, spurred on by solid midfield play from Rohan Reid, always looked like scoring a goal. Reid rightfully reaped the benefits of his industry when he fired in a ball squared to the far post by Zico Herrera past a fully stretched Arnett keeper Julian Mcleish to bring his sides level.
He then turned provider when he played the ball across for Anderson to put away. Richardson spoiled the fairlytale ending when, loosely marked, he latched on to a ball in the Wadadah area and fired his team to a share of the points.
ARNETT'S COACH DISSATISFIED
A clearly dissatisfied Arnett coach Jerome Waite said his team should have put the game away in the early stages.
"We kept Wadadah in the game today. I think we missed about six clear chances but if you don't score the goals it will come back to haunt you and our concentration really went about 10 minutes from the final whistle," he said.
Despite a horrific start to the second round and their mid-table placing, Waite insists his side has not given up.
"We have not given up. It is going to be a tough road to travel but we still intend to give it our best shot," he said.
The draw sees Arnett Gardens remain in sixth place with 27 points, 22 behind league leaders Harbour View. Wadadah are in 10th place on 17 and remain three points clear of the relegation zone.
GOALSHEET
Arnett Gardens 2
Kwame Richardson, 61st, 90th
Wadadah 2
Rohan Reid, Jermaine Anderson, 89th.
