An exciting West Kingston derby was contested at the Edward Seaga Sports Complex on Sunday September 29th between fierce rivals Tivoli Gardens and Arnett Gardens with both teams having to settle for a point at the end of an absorbing and sometimes bruising contest.
An exciting West Kingston derby was contested at the Edward Seaga Sports Complex on Sunday September 29th between fierce rivals Tivoli Gardens and Arnett Gardens with both teams having to settle for a point at the end of an absorbing and sometimes bruising contest.
It was only three minutes into the contest that the referee showed the first of eight yellow cards to Arnett Gardens striker Newton Sterling for an elbow to the face of Tivoli Gardens midfielder Andre Morgan.
That set the tone for a match in which none of the players held anything back.
The first real attack of the game came from the home team when they broke down the flank through Jamie Robinson whose cross was met by Rohan Reid who shot just wide of the right upright.
This brought the frenzied home supporters to their feet as they cheered on their beloved team.
It was the visitors who would take the lead in the 11th minute however. Vishinul Harris beat two defenders before crossing to Sterling who headed against the crossbar and the Arnett Gardens captain, Kirk Ramsey was on hand to nod home the rebound to the delight of the travelling fans.
Tivoli could have drawn level just 2 minute s later when Morgan’s neat lobbed pass into the area but Shavar Campbell was denied when Damian Hyatt left his line to produce a superb block and keep the score at 1-0.
A corner resulted from the block and the home fans erupted when Jameel Thompson was on hand to stab home at the far post to make it 1-1 in the 14th minute.
The goal seemed to inspire the home team as they took control of the midfield through Keammar Daley, Reid and Morgan.
Campbell should have given Tivoli the lead in the 25th minute when he was one on one with Hyatt but took too many touches which allowed the Arnett keeper to close the space and cut the angle as the chance went a begging.
Rafiek Thomas had a close shave when he created a bit of space for himself and shot just high and wide in the 30th minute.
Tivoli finished the half on the front foot as they launched a series of attacks on the Arnett goal but the visitors managed to withstand the pressure and the score remained 1-1 at the half time break.
Tivoli started the second half on the front foot and were denied the go-ahead goal in the 52nd minute when a combination of great goal keeping and defending denied, Thompson then Daley then Campbell all on the same play before the ball went out for a corner.
As he had done in the first half Ramsey put Arnett ahead again when he scored a spectacular volley from the top of the area to make the score 2-1 to the visitors in the 58th minute.
A midfield battle raged as tackles went flying and cards were handed out as neither set of players backed from a challenge. Tivoli slowly took control of the game again and it was no surprise when they drew level.
Second half substitute, Andre McFarlane broke down the right, got by a defender and crossed to the back post where Thompson fired home for the second time in the match with eleven minutes left on the clock.
Four minutes from time Thompson could have crowned himself in glory with a sublime hattrick but he dragged his shot just wide of the post as the Arnett players breathed a sigh of relief and the score remained 2-2.
Akeem Brown also had a chance to win it for Tivoli in the final minute of stoppage time but his effort was just wide of the upright. In the end both teams had to settle for a draw, with the Arnett Gardens team clearly the happier of the two.
Speaking with Yardie Sports after the game, Tivoli coach Glendon ‘Admiral’ Bailey said, “we showed that we have the team to win it (Red Stripe Premier League). The team showed character to come from behind twice and that is what you need in a team, character.
“We created enough chances in the end to win the game but we didn’t manage to take our chances but to get a point in a derby at this stage of the season isn’t bad,” he concluded.
Calvin Lewis, head coach of Arnett Gardens was philosophical about the point gained – “It was a tough derby game, played against a spirited Tivoli team. They never gave up and kept coming at us and got the equalizer in the end.
“We are a work in progress and the season is still young so we gladly accept a point and we will look to build on it.”
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