Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter

A late goal by Arnett striker Kevin Wilson left supporters of Tivoli stunned in the battle of the Gardens at the Edward Seaga Stadium yesterday, ensuring that the struggling Junglist kicked off the New Year in the best possible fashion.

With the game seemingly headed for a draw, Wilson collected a pass from Oniel Robinson before streaking away from an over-commited central defender Victor Thompson and booted the ball far to the right of Tivoli custodian Edsel Scott.

Sweet counter-attack

The sweet counter-attacking move, which had caught the West Kingston team flatfooted, had resulted from a Tivoli corner at the other end of the pitch, just seconds before.

"I've just been begging for one all season but the goal came at exactly the right time," an elated Wilson said.

"I've been doing a lot of work in training, continued to work hard and it paid off today," he added.

It was the Junglists who had taken the early lead, when captain and coach Fabian Davis took advantage of a defensive error, before smashing past rooted Tivoli goalkeeper Scott in the 20th.

However, Craig Stewart darted through the Arnett backline to bring the home team level as he blasted past goalkeeper Julian McCleish in the 32nd minute.

The 88th-minute goal for Wilson provided the second win of the season for Arnett over Tivoli, which they previously defeated at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex by a 1-0 margin in the first round.

"We came here for all three points today, came out aggressively and it's wonderful to come away with a win," Davis said.

"For us it has been about working on the little things in training and building up our team spirit, taking it 90 minutes at a time," he added.

Tivoli had found themselves with the majority of the possession and could even have taken the lead, when an awkwardly cleared attempt fell on the boot of Christopher Jackson in the 76th minute. Leaning back on the shot, the attempt struck from just inside the area flew high over the bar.

"It should have happened, there is no way a corner at their end of the field is supposed to turn into a goal for them at the other end," said Tivoli coach Lenworth Hyde Sr.

"We totally lost concentration. I think we were over anxious and just never really settled well. I will have to take some of the heat for that, I expect us to be far more composed as a team," he added.