Cavalier bounce back in style

Ryon Jones, Gleaner Writer

Cavalier bounced back from their opening round loss to Waterhouse in the Claro Champions League by blanking Tivoli Gardens 3-0 yesterday at the Waterhouse Mini Stadium.

This was Tivoli Gardens' first game in the competition and it could not have started on a more disastrous note, as they found themselves a goal down 43 seconds into the game.

Cavalier constructed a flowing move, with Julian Nugent breaking away down the left flank before pulling the ball back to the edge of the 18-yard box. His cross was met with a sweetly timed shot from Richard Williams, which flew past the helpless Tivoli Gardens custodian, Leon Gordon, into the back of the net.

Tivoli Gardens were however able to maintain possession of the ball and gained the ascendancy in the game, but only had wayward shots from Keammar Daley and Navion Boyd to show for their efforts.

Simplest save

In fact, it was Cavalier who were able to find the back of the net for a second time, albeit fortuitously. Williams' attempted cross from the right flank in the 30th minute should have provided Gordon with the simplest of saves. He, however, despite being under no pressure, spilled the ball into his own goal.

The second half saw Tivoli Gardens continue to dominate possession, but they could not find a consolation and any hopes they had of a comeback were completely dashed in the 77th minute when Williams' superb cross from the right wing was met by the head of Kemel Mullings at the back post. Gordon got a touch to the ball but was unable to prevent his team from conceding a third goal.

Joseph Campbell, assistant coach of Cavalier despite being thankful for the win, was not totally satisfied.

"We are grateful for three points, even though I am still not satisfied," said Campbell. "In terms of preparation, we are not where we want to be as yet, but it is coming," he added.

Tivoli Gardens' coach, Alvin Shaw, was naturally disappointed with the result but took positives from the game.

"I am disappointed with the score but I still take some good from the game," said Shaw. "One of the things we have been working on for the past month is keeping possession of the ball and I saw that today, but the shooting was really off," he added.