Tivoli secure rare RSPL win

Newton Sterling netted his third goal of the Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) season to help Tivoli Gardens to a rare win, a 2-0 victory over Molynes United at the Edward Seaga Sport Complex, yesterday.

The towering striker, who became Tivoli’s leading scorer of the season with a 42nd-minute strike, says the recent appointment of technical director Glendon ‘Admiral’ Bailey is already making a huge difference to their season.

Tivoli were scoring their fourth win of the campaign, but their second in three matches, and Sterling credits Bailey for their new lease on life.

“Admiral and Jerome Waite are murderers. When it comes to a Tuesday (physical training) it’s murder. Since he has come in, he and (coach) Mr (Philip) Williams have been working well together. He has us doing a whole lot of work, and we welcome it as it has been paying off for us. It’s showing. It’s like we are back in preseason, but I guess if it’s working, we have to build on it and continue what we are doing,” Sterling said.

The 35-year-old player, who is fast becoming a fan favourite at the west Kingston club, scored his first of the season in a 2-1 defeat to Humble Lion in the 10th round and added his second in the very next round in a 1-1 draw with Molynes United.

Hard work paying off

However, this was his first goal in the second stage, and he believes that his goal was a result of the hard work he has been doing lately under the new technical director. However, to his critics who still question his physical fitness, Sterling says he answers them on the field.

“It’s just putting in the hard work. We started off slowly, but we have been putting in some very hard work, lots of running, movements off the ball, shooting, and we are seeing the results,” he said.

“I don’t need to answer them. Fans will be fans. Their opinion is their opinion. I know what I am doing, and the coaches see what I am doing, and that is why I am out there, so their opinion doesn’t really matter. When I score, they are good. When I don’t score, they have all kind of things to say. It doesn’t matter to me,” Sterling continued.

“It feels good (to score) , but that’s my job – to score goals. If I don’t (score), I beat up myself, so I feel good, and I will try to continue what I am doing.”

Both teams had good chances in the first half, the best of which fell to Molynes’ Anthony Greenland, but he could not score from close range.

However, three minutes before the break, Jamie Robinson found Sterling in the area, and although his touch was a bit heavy, he latched on to the loose ball and planted a low shot into the corner to give Tivoli Gardens the advantage.

Molynes showed a determination after the interval and twice came close through Greenland, but again, the forward failed to capitalise.

Sterling nearly added a second, but his rasping free-kick hit the bar and rebounded into play.

Tivoli also put in a solid shift in defence and got the insurance goal in the last minute when Trayvon Reid dismissed the last defender and slot past Leon Taylor for his first Premier League goal.

The win carried Tivoli Gardens to 10th in the standings with 18 points, four clear of the relegation zone and two adrift, and Harbour View and Molynes in ninth and 10th, respectively.

The RSPL continues today with defending champions Portmore United hosting Cavalier at 3:00 p.m., at Spanish Town Prison Oval. Humble Lion will play UWI at Effortville at 5:00 p.m., and Mount Pleasant will host Dunbeholden at 7:00 p.m. at Drax Hall.