Bygrave scores ‘worldie’ in D’holden-Tivoli draw
Published:Tuesday | August 17, 2021 | 12:10 AM
Atapharoy Bygrave scored arguably the goal of the season that earned Dunbeholden FC a fortunate 1-1 draw with Tivoli Gardens in the feature Jamaica Premier League encounter at the UWI-JFF Captain Horace Burrell Centre of Excellence.
Romaine Bowers had given Tivoli Gardens a ninth-minute lead, slotting home from close range after William Benjamin parried Devroy Grey’s fierce shot into his path in the ninth minute. But Bygrave picked up a ball just below the half line and unleashed a ferocious shot that sailed past the outstretched hands of goalkeeper Davin Watkins on the stroke of half-time in the second minute of first-half stoppage time.
It was a wonder strike by Bygrave and it was just as impressive as his celebration where he would have been given a 10 out of 10 for his somersault and perfect landing.
Bygrave’s goal was worthy of a share of the points although, in truth, Tivoli Gardens should have won comfortably as they wasted a number of chances.
It was a result that hampered both team’s rush towards a play-off spot and despite it seeming like two drop points for Tivoli Gardens.
The orange and black clad bearers from West Kingston inched to 10 points from seven games to sixth spot, the same as fifth-place Waterhouse FC with 10 points.
St Catherine-based Dunbeholden also inched to 10 points and climbed into seventh spot from seven games and pushed Harbour View further down the ladder in eighth on nine points.
Dunbeholden’s assistant coach Ricardo Smith said his team was lucky to walk away with a point.
DISAPPOINTED BUT THANKFUL
“We are disappointed but still we have to be thankful because we saw in the first 20 minutes they could have been three goals up,” he said. “We were a little bit slow and they were getting to the second balls quicker than we were, so we were just thankful.”
Smith said he couldn’t give an answer to why his team started slowly because they did not look that way in training.
Dwayne Blake, assistant coach of Tivoli Gardens, once again lamented his team’s lack of finishing, something he said has been plaguing them all season.
“Missed chances have been haunting us for the entire season and once we put away our chances, we would have been four or five goals up in the first half alone,” Blake said.
“We just have to continue to talk to them and keep them focused.”
With the end of the eighth round and basically two sets of games remaining for most teams, only eight points separate the top team Vere United on 14 points from bottom-place Humble Lion and Molynes United, on six points each.
But more crucially, just three points separate the sixth-place team from the bottom-place team as the top six will make the play-offs.
Man-of-the-Match: Nickoy Christian (Dunbeholden FC)
Teams
Tivoli Gardens: 01-Davin Watkins, 05-Barrington Pryce, 32-Odean Pennycooke, 14-Kemar
Flemmings, 08-Shavar Campbell, 18-Devroy Grey, 19-Rushane Thompson (10-Jermaine
Johnson 67th), 06-Horatio Morgan (25-Tommy Lawrence 67th), 38-Romaine Bowers (29-Earon
Elliott 67th), 20-Anthony Nelson (21-Justin Dunn 90th), 27-Tkiven Garnett.
Subs not used: 12-Andre Smith, 24-Steve McQueen, 15-Dasha Satchwell, 28-Asprellia
Alexander.
Coach: Philip Williams
Booked: Horatio Morgan 35th, Barrington Pryce 90+3
Dunbeholden: 32-William Benjamin, 03-Andre Dyce, 13-Shevan James, 26-Romario
McPherson, 35-Mark Miller, 99-Fabian McCarthy, 16-Kemoy Atkinson, 23-Nickoy Christian,
12-Kimoni Bailey (44-Dwayne Smith 49th), 17-Atapharoy Bygrave (15-Craig Gayle, 89th),
24-Saneekie Burton (22-Rondee Smith 76th).
Subs not used: 40-Damion Hyatt, 05-Odean Daley, 06-Dijion Grant, 21-Shakeen Powell.
Coach: Harold Thomas
Booked: None
Referee: Steffon Dewar
Assistant Referee 1: Kioney Denton
Assistant Referee 2: Ricton Archer
Fourth Official: Doyen Tummings
Match Commissioner: Lascelles Logan