Football

Tivoli thrash August Town at UWI to go third

by
yardie
December 17, 2013

Tivoli Gardens started the second round of the 2013-2014 Red Stripe Premier League with a bang on Sunday, thrashing home team August Town 5-1 at the UWI Mona Bowl. In a game where they never needed to move out of second gear, the Glendon ‘Admiral’ Bailey coached team dominated from start to finish with the only blemish being the consolation goal scored by the home team in time added on.

The game had a somewhat scrappy opening, due largely in part to strong winds during the first half. The first opening of the game was actually created by Tivoli in only the third minute when a shot from Shavar Campbell was deflected into the path of Andre McFarlane who rushed his effort and booted high over the bar.

Ten minutes later the home team had a glorious opportunity to take the lead when a neat pass from Lennox Creary played in Richard Orrett behind the Tivoli defence but as he dwelled on the ball Edsel Scott left his line to block at his feet and did so again when the rebound fell to Orrett again. It was a fine double save by the Tivoli Gardens custodian, underlining his quality and value to his team.

August Town were left ruing that missed opportunity in the 16th minute, when Campbell found himself with time and space to pick his spot and slot home inside the far post to make it 1-0 as the defenders around him failed to press the ball.

The goal seemed to lift the away team and they started putting the August Town defence under extreme pressure. Jamoy Sibblies brought the best out of Kevin Graham in the August Town goal when he easily got by two defenders before firing a blistering shot to the near post. Graham was on spot to block the goal bound effort.

With August Town laying off the Tivoli players, Rohan Reid and Andre Morgan were allowed the freedom of the park which they took full advantage of, stringing passes together and bossing the game in totality.

August Town did find a little attacking impetus and the duo of Creary and Orrett combined to break down the Tivoli defence again, but as he did earlier in the match, Scott thwarted the efforts of Orrett for a second time.

On the very next play, Tivoli were almost gifted a second goal when Graham in trying to clear a back pass, kicked the ball straight at Morgan but the ball deflected to an August Town player to the relief of the goal keeper.

Tivoli doubled their lead on the stroke of half time when August Town were caught on the counter attack and Campbell out sped the retreating defenders to slot pass Graham for his second of the afternoon and his second for the club.

From the way Tivoli Gardens started the second half, it was clear that they had been ordered to get more goals. August Town was put under siege from the whistle blew. Campbell had the first chance of the second half in the 47th minute, but the his side-footed effort went into the side netting.

Five minutes later, Dwayne Smith shot straight at Graham from 25 yards which the keeper caught comfortably. But the pressure told in the 57th when Rupert Murray, in trying to clear a cross from Reid, slammed the ball past his own keeper.

The game was becoming too easy for Tivoli and it almost seemed like a training exercise at times. Campbell and Reid were guilty of overplaying the ball and Reid should have made it 4-0 but wasted a glorious chance to do so.

Jamoy Sibblies was next to spurn a good chance when he was left alone inside the box, where he controlled, turn and shot high over the bar.

A minute later August Town were down to 10 players when Jeffery Grant was dismissed for violent conduct after he struck out at Smith. It was a silly card for Grant to take with his team already being overrun.

Tivoli continued to miss easy chances but Reid would get his name on the score sheet when he was played clean through down the right. He dribbled into the area before shooting and it appeared that Graham dived over the ball as Tivoli went up 4-0.

The home team tried to muster up some attacking intent and Scott had to tip over a drive for a corner before following up with a good save from an acrobatic attempt from Kevin Wilson who was starved of service throughout the game.

Sibblies completed the scoring for Tivoli in the 84th minute when he finally converted after missing a number of easy chances.

Second half substitute Larone Russell, pulled one back in the third minute of stoppage time to ruin what should have been a clean sheet for Scott in the Tivoli goal.

Speaking with Yardie Sports after the game, Tivoli coach Glendon Bailey was pleased with his team’s performance but not with the way they conceded.

“It was an easy game for us because we applied ourselves well. The shape of the team was good and we moved the ball well. We controlled the game in midfield and got a lot of passes in there.

“Dwayne Smith stepped up when I brought him in and this is what I expect to see from my players. We need to apply ourselves like this all the time and that will make us a hard team to beat.

“While I am happy that we got five goals I am very disappointed that we conceded in stoppage time today. It all comes down to concentration and this is the same thing that cost us against Harbour View in our last game. So we will definitely have to work on that if we are to seriously challenge for silverware this season,” he concluded.

Bradley Stewart was left questioning the commitment of the August Town players. Stewart in just his second game in charge said, “The players can’t transition from defence to attack and more importantly from attack to defence. I am not sure that everyone is committed at the moment and come January we will be looking to clear out some players and bring in new ones.”

From the looks of things it will require all of the skills of the veteran coach to keep August Town up this term.

The win for Tivoli moves them up to third place on goal difference.

Photo: Shavar Campbell speeds away from his marker