UWI hold off Tivoli in Red Stripe Premier League

UWI FC held Tivoli Gardens to a 0-0 draw in their Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) football match at the Edward Seaga Complex yesterday. The result lifted the university team to 39 points, while Tivoli inched up to 33.

The home team was more dangerous throughout the contest, but resolute defending from the visitors kept their chances at a minimum. Their best opportunity fell midway the half when Andre McFarlane's corner landed between a host of Tivoli players in the area, but no one could capitalise on the loose ball.

UWI's head coach Marcel Gayle thought his team showed character to get a hard earned point.

"We are more mature in the league now. We will not always get a good game for 90 minutes, so today, we had to grind out a point. We went down a man early in the second-half and we showed courage and determination," he said.

"But we are coming off a loss on the road and we are still on the road and it's wonderful to come to Tivoli and get a point. Going forward, these are the games we want to play, where we grind out victories and grind out a point, so this is a feather in UWI's hat," he added.

Tivoli's assistant coach Damion Gordon thought there was a lack of cutting edge from his team.

"We should have won the game, but it's football and we didn't play with much urgency and we lacked the killer instinct. Tivoli, over years, had that killer instinct and we need to get it back," said the former Tivoli captain.

In another early game, Portmore (54) missed a great opportunity to go back atop the league after they were held to a 2-2 draw by relegation-threatened Reno (32) at Frome Complex. Reno took the lead twice through Renario Downswell (33rd, 84th). Portmore secured a point with strikes from Tremaine Stewart (70th) and Ricardo Morris (90th). Montego Bay United lead with 55 points.

Yesterday's Results

Tivoli Gardens 0 UWI FC 0

Reno FC 2 Portmore United 2

Humble Lion 1. Harbour View 1.

Waterhouse 2. Rivoli 1

Today's game

8:40 p.m. Arnett Gardens vs Boys' Town at Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex