Tivoli win again

Ryon Jones, Gleaner Writer

A lone first half strike by national player, Navion Boyd gave last season's Digicel Premier League runners-up Tivoli Gardens a 1-0 win over Sporting Central Academy yesterday at the Edward Seaga Sports Complex.

The goal came from the first real attack of the game in the 23rd minute. A neat passing move saw Devon Hodges flick a ball to Keammar Daley who lofted a pass over the top of the defence to Boyd. He had the simple task of rolling the ball to either side of Sporting's helpless custodian, Andre Blake.

On minute 35, Sporting got a glorious opportunity to pull level. Gregory Lewis made a wonderful square from the right flank to Gary McIntosh on the back post, but his header from point-blank range was well blocked by Tivoli's keeper, Edsel Scott.

Dominating

The second half saw Sporting totally dominate, as they appeared to be in better physical condition than Tivoli. They created several opportunities but faulty finishing saw them fail to find a well-deserved equaliser. In the 63 rd minute McIntosh forced an acrobatic save out of Scott after controlling a ball with his back to goal before turning his marker, Kasai Hinds and unleashing a 25-yard drive.

Both teams had 13 attempts at goal, with Tivoli getting five on target and Sporting three.

Tivoli's coach, Glendon 'Admiral' Bailey conceded that it was a tough game.

"Another three points, it is not all of them that are going to come easy, this one was a hard fought one today," said Bailey. "That is what makes a champion, is not every time it is going to come flowing. We dug deep as a team and that is the most important thing," he added.

Donovan Duckie, coach of Sporting Central Academy, is pleased with the way his team is playing, despite them suffering their second consecutive defeat.

"I am very elated in the way we are playing but in the final third we are just not getting it right," said Ducki.

Other results:

Humble Lion 0, Boys Town 1 (Anthony Bennett 90th); Portmore United 3 (Stevie Morrisey 68th, 90th,Tremaine Stewart 76),

Village United 0; Tivoli 1 (Navion Boyd 23rd), Sporting Central Academy 0; Reno 3 (Omar Dallas 15th, Sheldon Bryan 28th,Craig Foster 87th), Arnett 0; Waterhouse 4 (16th Weston Forrest, 47th Kenardo Forbes, 73rd Andre Clennon, 79th Vincent Earle), Benfica 1 (Garfield Reid 54th); St Georges 1 (Girvan Brown 65th), Harbour View 2 (Romario Campbell 82nd, Kemar Petrekin 55th)