LeVaughn Flynn, Staff Reporter

ARNETT GARDENS were left reflecting on missed opportunities on Friday following their 2-1 loss to Cooreville Gardens in the KSAFA/Transfer Plus Under-17 Football League final at the Barbican playing field.

Arnett hit the post three times in the second half, the last coming seconds before the final whistle, as they pushed for an equaliser to force the game into extra time.

"They laid 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 Ian Barnett, Arnett Gardens' coach.

impressive start

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

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

jolt of hope

Arnett received a jolt of hope moments later when Allen pulled one back after getting the rebound of 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 crossbar, just as the final whistle sounded.

Cooreville's coach, Steve Nichols, said: "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."