LeVaughn Flynn, Staff Reporter

Cooreville Gardens thwarted a spirited second-half fight-back by Arnett Gardens to claim the KSAFA/Transfer Plus Under-17 football title yesterday with a 2-1 win at the Barbican playing field.

Altinardo Dale led Cooreville's dominating first half with an 18-minute strike and Chevon Montgomery made it an equally impressive start in the second half within two minutes of the whistle. Jack Allen hit back in the 49th minute, but Arnett failed to penetrate their opponents' goal again, despite hitting the woodwork on several occasions.

Cooreville enjoyed most of the possession early and favoured the right flank. However, it was a left-sided cross by Richard Doyloy that Dale pounced on for the opening goal. Arnett posed little challenge in the first half with their best chance coming from Omar Pryce who booted high in front of an unmanned goal.

Arnett were set in attack mode at the start of the second half and Christopher Cross signalled his team's intention when he made a brilliant run into the penalty box only to kick wide. Immediately after that, Montgomery made Arnett pay for the miss when he headed in a corner kick past goalie Kimarley Williams who held on to the shot, but after it was over the line.

Arnett received a jolt of hope moments later when Allen pulled one back after getting the rebound off his initial shot off the upright. Now relaxed and confident, Arnett went on an all-out attack right to the end of the game.

Two minutes after Allen's goal, Rasheed Rowe was denied the equaliser when goalie Scott Cargill stole the ball off his feet in the six-yard box.

A splendid effort by Shavon Charlton from 25 yards out was tipped over the bar by Cargill with 10 minutes remaining. Javon Simms would again hit the cross bar just as the final whistle was sounded.

The game ended on a sour note as Lamar Nelson was issued a red card for violent conduct, after hitting Kino Grant in the face.

"I'm not surprised by Arnett's indiscipline," said Cooreville's coach Steve Nichols. "He did it right in front of the president and his coach and I hope KSAFA does something about it."

Of the game, Nichols added: "We didn't play as well in the first half, but a win is a win. Some of these players play with STATHS in the Manning Cup and they played a tough game against KC on Tuesday, so fatigue set in."

Arnett Gardens coach Ian Barnett pointed out that his team played much better in the second half and that the result would have been different had they played consistently well in both halves.

"They lay back too much in the first half. Then when they saw the game getting away from them in the second half, they wanted to play hard," said Barnett.