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Perfect start for Whitmore
August 28, 2024
Arnett Gardens coach Xavier Gilbert says his team paid the price for poor defending and not taking their opportunities after they lost 2-1 to Mount Pleasant in their Group A Concacaf Caribbean Cup match at Sabina Park yesterday.
Jahshaun Anglin headed Mount Pleasant into the lead after 33 minutes but Arnett came out and dominated the early periods of the second half and Shai Smith found the equaliser in the 54th minute.
Mount Pleasant Kimonie Bailey then fired home the winner to give Theodore Whitmore the perfect start to his second spell in charge of the club.
"It was a good game but we made some mistakes and it cost us," Gilbert said.
Whitmore said his team gave everything to get the victory.
"We didn't want to find any excuses. We asked the boys one thing and that was to give of their best, give 110 per cent and they went out and left it on the pitch.
"After coming off a loss, for us these three points mean a lot to the club, it means a lot to the players and we just have to keep working and keep improving," Whitmore said. "Again it is three points but you go out and want to make a statement and we did that this evening."
Mount Pleasant join Cavalier at the top of the group on three points, although they have played a game more. Police and Real Hope have one point each while Arnett are without a point at the bottom of the table.
Nevertheless, Gilbert believes they still have enough games to get their campaign back on track.
"It is just unfortunate we are on the losing end. It is first game, we are still in it. It might set us back in terms of points on the board and we are probably at the bottom of the table. But we are going to give it a shot. We have multiple games," he added.
After creating the bulk of the chances in the first half, Anglin hammered home a cross from Daniel Reid to open the scoring. However, Arnett came out after the interval and continuously opened the Mount Pleasant defence with quick, short passes and 19 minutes into the second period Smith guided a header past Shaquan Davis for the equaliser.
The 'Junglists' continued to create good opening in the final third but were vulnerable to the counter, and they paid the price in the 81st minute when Bailey dissected the Arnett defence before scoring with a powerful low drive.
"When you have momentum, teams are always vulnerable to concede on counters and fast breaks and it cost us," Gilbert said.
