Hanging on for dear life
Tivoli’s battle for final play-off spot makes for desperate ‘garden party’
Published:Sunday | June 5, 2022 | 12:16 AMLivingston Scott - Gleaner Writer
TIVOLI GARDENS coach Glendon ‘Admiral’ Bailey said his team will be giving it their all to get the win when they face perennial rivals, Arnett Gardens, in the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) at the Tony Spaulding Complex at 5:15 p.m.
In the opening game at 3 p.m., Molynes United play Portmore United.
Also at Drax Hall, fifth-place Cavalier take on third-place Mount Pleasant. While at the Effortville Community Centre, eighth-place Humble Lion entertain second-place Dunbeholden.
Tivoli have lost their last two matches to Mount Pleasant and Waterhouse and are just holding on to the sixth and final play-off spot by a thread.
However, Bailey said his team is already in play-off mode, as they are required to at least win their last two matches to have any chance of securing a spot.
“We have to forget the two losses and look forward to the two upcoming games. Those two games are going to be very crucial. You could say we start the play-offs from now on. So that is how we look at it, we are starting the play-offs now,” he said.
Arnett defeated Tivoli 2-0 in the first round, and even though they have fallen on hard times recently, winning just once in five games, Bailey will not take anything for granted.
“We have to give it everything we have because this team is not too easy. It is uphill from now on.
“If we consider ourselves top-six contenders, then we have to cope with these teams and the guys are up for it. We just have to go back to the drawing board and be ready for the match,” he said.
He added that in both their defeats to Mount Pleasant and Waterhouse, they created many good scoring chances that they failed to capitalise on, and he believes that if they get this part of their game right, three points are much closer to a reality.
“We need to sort out the finishing. That is our downfall. We got a lot of opportunities (against Waterhouse) even when time was running out. So that is the area we need to concentrate on,” he stated.
MINOR SLUMP
Despite getting poor results from their last five games, Arnett Gardens coach Paul ‘Tegat’ Davis said he is not too perturbed by a minor slump in form.
He believes his team is still playing good football but like his counterpart Bailey, does not think the group is being clinical enough.
“We just need to take our chances and concentrate more and stop making mistakes. Football is about chances. When you make mistakes, the other team takes their chances. That is what will cost the game,” he said.
Tivoli have 25 points and are one point above Harbour View, who hold the advantage with three games in hand.
Arnett slipped to fourth on 36 points after their defeat to Mount Pleasant, who now occupy the third spot with 38 points.
Waterhouse lead the standings with 43, followed by Dunbeholden on 42.