Our best game of the season! - Williams hails Tivoli ­performance after big win over Harbour View

Tivoli Gardens started the new year on a winning note, turning in what has been described as their best performance of the season, as they overpowered Harbour View 3-0 in their Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) encounter at the Edward Seaga Sports Complex yesterday.

First-half goals from Jermaine Johnson and Stephen Barnett, within minutes, gave all momentum to the home side, while substitute Rodico Wellington added another deep into the second half, as the visitors struggled throughout the 90 minutes to gain a foothold in the contest.

After a profitable December, which saw them take 11 out of the 18 points available, including three straight wins, head coach Philip Williams praised his team’s performance in their first fixture of 2020, calling it their best game of the season.

“We did well in all departments. We scored three goals and we kept a clean sheet today,” Williams said after the game. “We put together some really good passes and some really good sequences of plays, and this is one of our most complete games so far.”

Fluctuating between the relegation places for the better part of the season, they have now increased their points tally to 26, four points shy of the playoff places.

Williams says that despite the struggles faced during the start of the season, they have not veered from their objective of making the playoffs and noted that he is pleased that they are finally getting the results that they deserve.

AMBITIOUS GOAL

“We always have ambition of being into the top six. I think we are just putting our plays together. The results are coming our way and getting into the top six is definitely an objective that the team has set for themselves,” said Williams.

Meanwhile, Harbour View head coach Damion Stewart lamented his team’s lack of desire.

“Tivoli wanted it more, so they go it. They got the three points. That’s all I can say about the game,” Stewart said. “You saw the fight and determination, so they wanted it more and they got the three points.”

The home side threatened early through Horatio Morgan, with his early shot going wide, setting the tone for what was a first half that saw a busy Harbour View goalkeeper Tafari Chambers.

Barnett managed to muster the first shot on target but was unable to direct his header either side of Chambers, who made a comfortable save.

Morgan was causing problems in the middle of the park and profited from his good play in the 33rd minute when his low cross found Johnson, who tapped in from close range to take the lead.

The Stars of the East barely had time to kick off again before the deficit was doubled when Tivoli captain Kemar Flemmings made a great overlapping run and his low delivery found Barnett, who finished comfortably past Chambers.

Morgan was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet himself before half-time as he got the better of a Harbour View defender and saw his shot parried.

Harbour View could not find answers in the second half and it was after Wellington effectively sealed the points with his 78-minute strike that they made Tivoli goalkeeper Duran Duncan earn his pay.

Jahshawn Anglin forced an excellent save from Duncan in the final 10 minutes and Oqussa Chong should have buried his point-blank effort as time expired, but Duncan denied him to preserve the clean sheet for the home side, their fifth of the campaign.

Scores

Dunbeholden 2 - 0 Cavalier

 Portmore United 0 - 2 Humble Lion

Tivoli Gardens 3 - 0 Harbour View

Today’s game

Arnett Gardens vs Molynes