Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter

Arnett Gardens Horace Sharpe (No.27) shapes to kick the ball as he is challenged by Waterhouse's Marco McDonald (partly hidden), while his teammate Irvino English reacts during the Digicel Premier League (DPL) match at Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex yesterday. English scored a penalty to hand Waterhouse a 1-0 win. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

The early season frustration continued unabated for Arnett Gardens as they slumped to their third consecutive defeat, going down 1-0 to a visiting Waterhouse, in the Digicel Premier League (DPL) at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex yesterday.

On this occasion it was a 23rd minute penalty converted by Irvino English which proved to be the instrument of torture for the Arnett spectators on hand, as the 'Junglists' once again saw themselves denied a point by the narrowest of margins.

The opportunity from the spot had been created by the ingenuity of Kenardo Forbes, who quickly knifed inside of Desmond Breakenridge, forcing the defender to commit a foul in the area.

Goals continued

However, when Lance Dacosta was sent off with a red card in the 36th minute for a retaliatory challenge, it seemed Arnett might have caught a break. But just as they had in previous 1-0 losses to both Portmore United and Boys' Town, the goals continued to evade Arnett.

Striker Kevin Wilson's 37th minute sprint to goal in pursuit of a Charles Williams cross saw him eventually fail to get enough on a header to trouble Waterhouse custodian Richard McCallum.

With Waterhouse defending resolutely in the second half, substitute Gregory Simpson came on and made an immediate impact, when he whipped the ball into the area for Donovan Bernard. The player then mistimed his jump and failed to get the 62nd minute header goalward.

A clearer opportunity a few minutes later would leave the frustrated crowd staring on in disbelief, as Bernard did well to wriggle away from defenders on the left flank and pick out Wilson with a well weighted cross at the far post. The forward, with the goal at his mercy, headed just over the crossbar.

More groans

There were even more groans when Simpson seemed to have fashioned an equaliser, spinning sharply at the top of the area to fire a low shot, which beat a fully stretched McCallum. Instead of ending up in the back of the net, however, the attempt hit the left post before rolling right across the goal line.

"You can't help but be disappointed with a result like this. They went down to 10 men early in the first half and we had several opportunities to score," said Arnett coach Jerome Waite.

"It is goals that win games, we are failing to put away our chances and that is continuing to haunt us," he added.

Satisfied with the result Waterhouse coach Wayne Fairclough commended his team for a determined performance.

"We came here for all three points and we got them despite going down to 10 men early in the game. It was a gutsy performance," he said.

"I have to commend the guys, they really put in the work and that is the kind of effort it takes to get points on the road," he added.