Second placed Tivoli Gardens were held to a 0-0 draw by fourth place Humble Lion at the Edward Seaga Sports Complex in the only game between the teams in the top six of the Red Stripe Premier League on Sunday. Elton Thompson was denied the winner for Tivoli Gardens by the linesman flag in the final minute of stoppage time in an intense and gripping contest.
Tivoli Gardens should have put the game to bed in the first fifteen minutes of play after a storming start, but lived to rue the missed chances as a grateful Humble Lion left West Kingston with a precious point.
The game was only 90 seconds old when Thompson was sprung free down the left side, but after driving into the box, he shot straight at Kadeem Davis at the near post.
Jermaine “Teddy” Johnson then had the fans on their feet and screaming for a goal after he turned his marker expertly inside the box before rifling off a shot that had Davis beaten all ends up. The Humble Lion custodian was grateful to see the ball rebound off the crossbar, but had to react quickly to keep out the follow up shot from Thompson along with his defenders, as Tivoli threatened to run riot early on.
Davis, who was probably Humble Lion’s man of the match, had to be at his absolute best to tip over a shot from Nicholas Smith in the 15th minute after the overlapping left back had received the perfect layoff from Johnson on the edge of the area. The rasping drive from Smith was headed for the roof of the net before the finger tips of Davis steered the ball over the top.
Rohan Richards who joined Humble Lion from Jamalco in the transfer window, was the first to make Tivoli defense work. His first attempt at a shot failed but the ball then sat up nicely for him to fire a left footed effort towards goal which was steered behind by Barrington Pryce for a corner kick.
Davin Watkins produced his first save of the afternoon when he dived low to his left to keep out a shot from Gregory Lewis as Humble Lion registered their first shot on target.
Tivoli continued to dominate possession through the midfield duo of Tevin Shaw and Marvin Stewart but failed to ask further questions of Davis for the rest of the half.
The home team picked up where they left off in the second half, peppering the visitor’s box as they continued to hunt the game’s first goal.
Thompson shot just wide of the near post shortly after the resumption, before Davis parried a shot from Jermaine Johnson in the path of the onrushing Ajuma Johnson, but the striker failed to make proper contact with the ball and the chance was wasted.
The game eventually became a more even contest as both midfields cancelled each other out. Desperate to find a winner, Tivoli coach Omar Edwards introduced former Boys Town striker and new signing Peter Keyes late on, but the Humble Lion defence continued to stand firm.
Tivoli fans were in a frenzy in the fourth minute of added on time when the ball was in the back of the net, only to have their celebrations curtailed by the eagle eyes of assistant referee Keeble Williams who flagged correctly, to deny Thompson and Tivoli Gardens another late winner at home.
Leaders Montego Bay United took advantage of the slip up by Tivoli Gardens, defeating Jamalco FC 2-1 at Wespow Park to open up a three point gap at the top of the table.
Ramone Sibles scored five minutes before the break to give the champions a 1-0 half time lead and Johann Weatherly doubled the advantage for the home team on minute 60.
Peter Brown responded for Jamalco just two minutes later to half the deficit, but a red card for Ajuran Brown in the 77th minute dashed all hopes of a stirring comeback for the visitors who were losing their fourth game in a row.
Jamalco remains in 9th position on 20 points, the same as 8th place Marverley/Hughenden and 10th place Harbour View.
The UWI FC also took advantage of Tivoli dropping points, squeezing out a narrow 1-0 win over Marverley/Hughenden at the Constant Spring Field. Rohan Reid got the lone goal in the 20th minute for the Mona based outfit who move up to 38 points, one behind Tivoli as things remain tight at the top. Marverley, winless in three, are stuck on 20 points.
Fifth place Portmore United had to settle for a draw with a determined Reno FC at the Frome Complex. Javon East, who also scored for Portmore last match day, put the visitors ahead in the 60th minute. Portmore appeared to have all three points in the bag before Afiba Chambers secured a point for Reno when he grabbed the equalizer deep into stoppage time.
Portmore remains in 5th place, a point behind Humble Lion while Reno closed the gap on 6th place Arnett Gardens to just three points as they move up to 25 points.
Over at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex hosts Arnett Gardens were spanked 3-0 by second from bottom Waterhouse FC in the surprise result of the day. Waterhouse have been struggling to get wins at home or away and a comprehensive win over the former champions is just what the doctor ordered for Glendon “Admiral” Bailey and his troops.
After a scorelss first half, Kemar Beckford, who leads the scoring for Waterhouse, got the first goal of the afternoon in the 62nd minute, before captain Romario Campbell made it 2-0 just seven minutes later. Veteran Irvino English made the game safe for the visitors, capping off a great performance for the premier league strugglers,scoring a sublime freekick in the 81st minute.
The only blemish on the performance of the Drewsland based team was the sending off of Jeffery Henry in the second minute of added time for a second bookable offence. Waterhouse remains in 11th place in the league but have increased their points tally to 18 with the win. Arnett Gardens remains in 6th place but the gap between themselves and seventh place Reno is now just three points.
The late game played at the Harbour View Stadium, saw bottom team Boys Town eek out a 1-0 win over the hosts courtesy of a 3rd minute striker from Andrew Allen. The striker was able to fire home after a mistake by the Harbour View custodian who left his line too early. That goal would prove to be enough to claim all three points for the team that has occupied the 12th spot almost all season long.
The win moves Boys Town up to 15 points after they registered just their 4th win of the campaign.
It was a bad result for Harbour View who are now just two points above the relegation zone, tied on 20 points with 8th placed Marverley and 9th placed Jamalco.
Things are bcoming just as tight at the bottom of the table as they are at the top, with just two games left to play in the second round of the regular season.
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