Too many ejections
Coaches lament red cards as Vere United, Arnett Garden land wins
Published:Sunday | February 20, 2022 | 12:12 AMDaniel Wheeler - Staff Reporter
CAVALIER’S DISCIPLINARY record as of late, whether deserved or not, in the mind of technical director Rudolph Speid, is starting to become a major problem in their 2022 Jamaica Premier season.
The defending champions were subjected, yet again, to an ejection, their fourth in six games, as they were defeated 1-0 by Vere United in their game yesterday at the UWI-JFF Captain Horace Burrell Centre of Excellence.
Javier Brown scored the lone goal from the penalty spot in the 33rd minute as Vere managed to stun the champions and get their second win of the season.
Cavalier’s difficulties in keeping their full complement on the field continued as Cleo Clarke was sent off five minutes before the end of the game for denial of a clear goalscoring opportunity.
Already having to reshuffle their line-up because of the absence of some of their midfield players, Speid says that their disciplinary problems have been surprising and not helping matters.
“Clearly, we are indisciplined, or the authorities think so. Those are the things going against us and, with those types of results, it is going to be difficult for you to win games,” said Speid.
Two players were sent off in their 3-0 defeat to Waterhouse on January 24 and, just last week, Richard King was ejected in their 1-0 win over Harbour View. While concerned about the frequency, he also said that he did not feel that Clarke’s challenge was red card worthy.
“We are not that type of team, so I don’t know where these red cards are coming from. But they are frequent and the calls seem to be going against us. Clearly, the one awhile ago, there were definitely people behind the person (Clarke) who committed the infringement. So I would have thought, from my knowledge, that it should have been a yellow.”
PRAISED FOR DISCIPLINE
Off the back of a two-game losing streak, Vere United head coach Donovan Duckie praised his team’s discipline in executing their game plan and their perseverance in the middle of a tough period for the club.
“It was more hard work, and then comes the element of luck. When you think it’s getting more difficult, sometimes it works to your benefit,” Duckie said.
‘’I thought it was the best game that we played in terms of how we tactically organised. I was pleased with our transitions, the energy and the effort level was very high.”
Meanwhile, despite playing with nine men for 40 minutes, Arnett Gardens defeated Montego Bay United 3-1 in the second game of a double-header at the UWI-JFF Captain Horace Burrell Centre of Excellence.
Arnett were led by a brace from debutant Marlon Allen in the 16th and 23rd minutes. Laudrick Haughton got Montego Bay back into the contest in the 39th minute, but substitute Erzan Simpson got Arnett’s third in the 49th.
Kemoy Slowley was sent off for a second yellow card before half-time and Gerald Neil was given a straight red in the 50th minute for a dangerous challenge.
However, Montego Bay could not make their numerical advantage count, with head coach Ricky Hill saying that they overthought every decision on the ball.
“We made it not as difficult as it should have been. We are having too many touches (on the ball). If you look back on the footage, I’m sure you’ve got players that are taking four, five touches when one or two would have done. We didn’t manage to prize any clear opportunities,” Hill said.
Despite his disappointment with the team’s indiscipline, Arnett Gardens head coach Paul Davis said he was pleased with the character shown by his players, and their calmness given their severe disadvantage.