Biggs' rallies Tivoli

Robert Bailey, Gleaner Writer

A second-half brace from David Biggs carried Tivoli Gardens to an exciting 3-2 come-from-behind victory over Jose Marti in their Group B football match of the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)/ Pepsi/Digicel Manning Cup urban area senior schoolboy football competition, at Tivoli Gardens' Industrial Terrace ground yesterday.

Biggs scored his goals in the 54th and 79th minutes. Ajei Benjamin netted Tivoli's third goal in the 80th minute.

Anthony Greenland (15th) and Shennar Parkinson (20th) scored for the Calvert Fitzgerald-coached José Marti.

The victory pushed Tivoli into second place in the group on nine points, one behind leaders Bridgeport (10) and two ahead of third-place Ascot (8).

In the group's other games yesterday, Bridgeport beat Vauxhall 3-1 and Ascot and Dunoon played to a 0-0 draw.

Dave Clarke, coach of Tivoli, was very delighted with his team's win.

"It was a very tough game for us because this is the first time a team had led us in a game this season," said Clarke. "However, we made some tactical changes at half-time and the move paid off for us because we dominated the second half and I am very happy for that," Clarke said.

"This victory will certainly help the confidence of my team because it puts us in a good position to qualify for the Walker Cup competition," he added.

Fitzgerald conceded his team was outplayed in the second half.

"I think that in the second half our two flank midfielders ran out of steam," said Fitzgerald. "We made some substitutions, however, these substitutes could not carry on the intensity of the players that they replaced and so Tivoli took control of the game and won it."

Yesterday's Results

Group B: Bridgeport 3 Vauxhall 1, Tivoli 3 José Marti 2, Ascot 0 Dunoon 0

Group D: Penwood 4 Meadowbrook 2, Norman Manley 6 Mona 1, St Andrew Technical 3 Holy Trinity 0

Group F: Eltham 2 Campion College 1, Kingston College 4 Hydel 0

Today's Games

Group A: Camperdown vs Cumberland, Jamaica College vs St Mary's College

Group C: Calabar vs Kingston Technical, Excelsior vs St Andrew College, Innswood vs Papine

Group E: Ardenne vs Edith Dalton James, Donald Quarrie vs St Jago, Wolmer's vs Spanish Town