Arnett Gardens recorded their third straight Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) win in a row after scoring a 2-0 win over Rivoli United at the Prison Oval yesterday.

Andrew Phang put the visitors in front 51 minutes into the contest and Leon Strickland sealed the win with a terrific strike 19 minutes before the end.

However, for the second game running, Rivoli were on the end of a disputed referee decision, this time after referee Karl Tyrell overruled his assistant on an offside call, and allowed the game to play on. Arnett ended up scoring from the same play, as they continued playing, while Rivoli players stopped, waiting for a whistle that never came. Phang turned home Steve Clarke's cross from six yards to put his team ahead.

According to the match official, the ball came off a Rivoli defender before ending up at Clarke's feet and so the latter could not be called offside. Rivoli in their frustration went all out at their opponent and had a few chances to get back a goal, but Strickland put the game further out of reach, when his stunning strike from 30 yards gave Peter Harrison in goal no chance. Arnett's coach, Jerome Waite, was pleased to see his team win their third game on the trot without some key players.

"Today's game was very physical, they (Rivoli) are very tough and they always give their best when they face Arnett Gardens. It was a hard-fought game and we have to lift our hats to the defensive unit and the goalkeeper, they were outstanding," he said.

Rivoli's coach, Calvert Fitzgerald, believes his team has been having a bad run of luck and was reluctant to blame the referee for the opening goal.

"In training, we always tell players play until the whistle blows, even if you appeal, you play until the whistle goes, so it's a bit of inexperience and immaturity."

The win lifted Arnett to 23 points and into second place, four adrift of leaders Waterhouse. Rivoli with 16 points slipped one place to eight with the defeat. In other games Sporting Central beat Cavalier 1-0, Humble Lion stopped Reno by the same score, likewise Harbour View over Tivoli.