... Fit-again Hardware rescues point for Boys’ Town
Boys’ Town and national senior team midfielder Jamiel Hardware were delighted after he came off the bench and scored a vital goal for his team against the unbeaten Arnett Gardens in the Trench Town derby in the Red Stripe Premier League at Barbican yesterday.
Having been out of action for three weeks because of a knee ligament strain, Hardware rescued his struggling club when he netted the equaliser in the 66th minute after Arnett had taken the lead when Fabian Reid netted a penalty kick in the 25th minute.
Arnett ended the game with 10 players as Reid was ejected in the second half by FIFA referee Cordella Samuels for foul and abusive language.
“It is a very important point today. We wanted the three points but, unfortunately, we got one. Coming back from injury after being out for three weeks was a struggle,” Hardware told STAR Sports.
“I was off the field working on the injury every day. I wanted to come back so bad because I saw the struggle that we put ourselves in, and coming off the bench in the second half to score this goal is emotional on one side, but I am again happy for the goal and the point,” he added.
MORE FOCUSED
The point earned from the result inched the Red Brigade on to 11 points. However, they remained rooted at the bottom in the 12-team league.
“Since the win against Reno last week at Frome, the players are more focused and realise the situation that we have put ourselves into in the past couple of months. We are now happy and focused. We will continue to fight until the end,” Hardware boldly added.
“It is good for us as in the last two games, we have earned four points from a possible six. We want to make a run like what happened in the closing part of last season, where we won seven out of the last eight games,” Hardware pointed out.
Coach of Boys’ Town Andrew Price had high praises for Hardware.
“He is an amazing player, one that I enjoy coaching. He will go out there and give one hundred per cent. I wanted to start him today, but he told me that he was not ready yet. I listened to him and brought him on. He scored one of his trademark goals,” Price said about the former Bridgeport High Manning Cup star.
Meanwhile, Jerome Waite, coach of Arnett, said that it was good to remain unbeaten in the league and he was looking forward to 2018.