Pryce credits Humble Lion fight in scrappy win over Tivoli

IT WAS clear from the opening whistle that the Humble Lion and Tivoli players had yet to recover from the holiday break, with a scrappy affair bereft of very good football highlighting their seventh-round Jamaica Premier League encounter at Effortville in Clarendon yesterday.

When referee Nerissa Goldson blew her whistle for the final time, it was the host, Humble Lion, who just managed to come out smiling following the 1-0 win.

The contest failed to produce any real spark in the first half, with the teams looking sluggish and lethargic for the most part.

The only real excitement in the half came via a 30-yard pile driver from Rodico Wellington in the 38th minute, which brought out a superb save from Humble Lion goalkeeper Prince-Daniel Smith.

Both camps would have asked for more urgency and application for the second stanza, and those instructions seemed to have hit home with the Humble Lion players more as right on the resumption, they would take the all-important lead.

A long ball from the right side into the Tivoli area would be knocked down by Andre Clennon, who found Shamari Dallas. Dallas would then turn on his left and fired past a diving Kewong Watkins in the Tivoli goal in the 46th minute.

All this time, the Tivoli players were remonstrating to referee Goldson that Clennon had handled the ball in the area.

Tivoli would not be daunted by the goal and went on a few telling attacks of their own, and in one of those attacks, defender Linval Lewis was booked for a foul on a Tivoli player.

Lewis felt that his yellow card was unjust and barked expletives at referee Goldson, who immediately brandished a second yellow to send Lewis to the showers in the 57th minute.

Humble Lion had to defend for dear life for the remainder of the game without their central defender, and they would just hold on to secure the three points despite substitute Diego McKenzie getting a glorious chance to snatch a point for Tivoli with three minutes to go.

Humble Lion’s coach Andrew Pryce was pleased that his team was able to secure back-to-back one-nil wins to kickstart their run heading into the new year.

“It wasn’t a pretty game as we saw a lot of party lag today. Having these games during the Christmas break is always going to be difficult, but we came and gave a good fight,” said Pryce.

Tivoli’s coach, Jermaine Johnson, was disappointed that his team was not able to come away with some points.

“It was a hard, scrappy game, but we knew we were not going to get a good game down here because the pitch is not the best. We came into this game with confidence to get three points or even a draw, but it didn’t work out, and we have to go back to the drawing board.”

Humble Lion are now fourth in the 14-team table with 13 points from their seven games, while Mount Pleasant FC took sole leadership of the table after their 5-0 drubbing of Molynes United at Drax Hall. Mount Pleasant now have 17 points and lead Harbour View, who are on 15. Cavalier, like Humble Lion, are on 13 points but have a better goal difference.

The top six are rounded out by Montego Bay United, who are on 12 points after their 1-1 draw with Chapelton, and Portmore United, who have 11 points after registering just their second win of the season, a 3-1 affair against cellar dwellers Faukland FC.

Yesterday’s Results

Dunbeholden 0-0 Waterhouse

Faulkland 1-3 Portmore

Humble Lion 1-0 Tivoli

Molynes 0-5 Mount Pleasant

Mobay 1-1 Chapelton