Robert Bailey, Gleaner Writer

Arnett Gardens registered their first points of the 2006-2007 Wray & Nephew National Premier season when they played to an exciting 1-1 draw with neighbours Boys' Town at Collie Smith Drive yesterday.

There were few chances in the first half with both teams cancelling out each other. Arnett Garden's Kieral McLeod got the first clear chance. He outsprinted two defenders but sent his left footed effort wide with only goalkeeper Kirk Porter to beat.

Boys' Town's Fabian Watkins also missed a golden scoring opportunity but his long range shot was denied by the crossbar. Team-mate Denzil Mitchell then saw his point-blank header well saved by Arnett Garden's custodian Julian McLeish.

Beautiful shot

Arnett Gardens began well in the second half and were rewarded in the 55th minute when William Richards scored with a beautiful shot from 20 yards out.

Leon Strickland should have doubled the Arnett lead a few minutes later but Porter was at his best this time, when he made a spectacular diving save to his left.

Substitute Peter Keyes found the equaliser for Boys' Town in the 72nd minute when he headed home a well-taken cross from Jermaine Bailey to set off wild celebrations among the home crowd. Keyes missed a great scoring chance in the dying moments of the game when his shot was blocked by Arnett Gardens' defender Gerald Neil.

"We didn't played particularly well in the first half," Glendon Bailey, Arnett's coach, said after the game.

Dividends

"We regrouped in the second period and got the ball rolling and it paid dividends," he added.

Coach of Boys' Town, Andrew Price, said he was pleased with his team's performance.

"We came into this game a little bit depleted. We had four players, out that weren't available, so we definitely had to bring in some players that don't normally play. We went behind in the second half but we came back and showed character today, we really stood up and fought," he said.

Boys' Town