Thu | Mar 28, 2024

TG off bottom of RSPL table

Published:Monday | October 21, 2019 | 12:00 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writer
Dunbeholden’s Anthony Thompson (left) and André Pryce (centre) go up for a header with Tivoli Gardens’ Jamie Robinson during their Red Stripe Premier League encounter at the Edward Seaga Complex yesterday.

Tivoli Gardens rose from the bottom of the Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) after scoring a 1-0 win over fellow strugglers Dunbeholden at the Edward Seaga Complex yesterday.

Davion Garrison scored the game’s only goal in the 82nd minute to give the west Kingston side only their second win in eight matches and lift them to eighth in the table with eight points.

However, they owed their victory much to Dunbeholden’s wastefulness in front of goal, as the St Catherine team had a flurry of chances in the second half, even a penalty that was blasted wide by the team’s leading scorer DeAndre Thomas.

Tivoli coach Philip Williams said the three points is a welcome boost and just reward for the good football he says they have been playing all season.

“It’s a very important win for us,” he said. “Three points is important in moving us from where we are at. Not only that, but it’s a boost to the team morale. We have been playing good football, but unfortunately have not been getting the result, and we needed this victory to feel good about ourselves”.

“I am glad that we did what we had to do to survive that period under pressure. But we had plans to get (Newton) Sterling involved and go more direct, and we got a goal off one of those plays. But the guys did well to eke out a win.”

Tivoli dominated the first half but it was Dunbeholden who had the two best chances with Thomas hitting the bar and Demario Phillips failing to hit the target in a one-on-one with Tivoli goalkeeper Davian Watkins. After the break, the visitors had excellent chances through André McFarlane, Phillips, Rochane Smith, and a penalty in the 70th minute, which Thomas kicked wide.

But eight minutes from time, substitutes Sterling and Garrison, combined to give the hosts the all-important goal, with Sterling flicking on a header to the former UWI player, who arrowed a shot into the far corner.

Dunbeholden coach Ricardo Smith said poor finishing was his team’s downfall and says that it is has haunted them all season.

Meanwhile, league leaders Waterhouse and Molynes both lost their unbeaten starts to the season, both going down 3-1 to Mount Pleasant and Cavalier, respectively. However, the two front-runners stay seven points clear at the top of the standings with 19 points each. Vere are the new occupants of the bottom of the table on six points, the same as UWI.

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com

Yesterday’s Red Stripe Premier League results:

- Mt Pleasant 3-1 Waterhouse

- UWI 1-1 Vere

- Humble Lion 0-0 Harbour View

- Molynes 1-3 Cavalier

- Tivoli 1-0 Dunbeholden