JAMAICA WOMEN’S PREMIER LEAGUE - Arnett draw first blood

Arnett Gardens took the early advantage in the first leg of the Jamaica Women’s Premier League (JWPL) semi-finals after they defeated Los Perfectos 3-2 yesterday in a tightly contested affair at the Captain Horace Burrell Centre of Excellence.

Shikira Douglas continued her prolific form in front of goal, bagging a brace in the second and 42nd minutes for Arnett, while captain Tuanashae Hamilton added her name to the scoresheet in the 77th.

Los Perfectos had the ever-reliable Venicia Reid to thank for their goals, as she also scored a brace in the 28th and 88th to keep their chances of reaching the final alive.

It was a hotly contested affair as both teams went on the offensive from early and could have added more goals to their tallies.

But it was Arnett who drew first blood when Douglas made the initial breach in the opening two minutes of the contest with the first real attack of the game.

She ran past her markers to meet a defence-splitting pass and had the composure to finish around the goalkeeper from close range.

But Los Perfectos did not intend to keep quiet, and veteran striker Reid pulled her team level in the 28th minute.

Reid ghosted between two centre backs to latch onto a pass from Sara Needham before deftly finishing into the bottom left corner.

Arnett restored their lead before the half-time whistle, though, as Douglas bagged her second of the game in similar fashion to her first.

The prolific striker again burnt her markers for pace to meet a ball sent over the top and had the composure to guide the ball to the far post from just outside the box.

The Junglists continued to press and found their third in the second half in spectacular fashion.

Hamilton picked up the ball down the left flank and drove past a Los Perfectos defender before she struck the ball with the outside of her right boot to send it rocketing into the roof of the net.

Reid showed her quality for Los Perfectos and pulled one back for the Manchester-based club in the dying embers of the match.

She showed grit to outmuscle defender Shaquilla Forbes before sneaking a snapshot past unsuspecting goalkeeper Alesha Robinson.

The result means Arnett takes the lead heading into the second leg but the semi-final is far from over, as Los Perfectos are eager to turn the tie in their favour.

gregory.bryce@gleanerjm.com

Caption: Arnett Gardens’ ace Shikira Douglas (left) strikes the ball ahead of chasing Los Perfectos defenders Nasheika Spence (second left), Shonda Mullings (second right) and Nickel Thomas (right) on her way to scoring her team’s first goal in the Women's Premier League first-leg semi-final football match at the Captain Horace Burrell Centre of Excellence yesterday.