Another setback for Lion, Tivoli

Richard Bryan, Gleaner Writer

Rain forced the cancellation of the rescheduled Digicel Premier League round-five game between Humble Lion and Tivoli Gardens, denting hopes either team had at using the game to advance their separate ambitions.

The game was originally delayed past the scheduled 3:30 p.m. with rain under way, but even as it eased sufficiently and then to an eventual halt minutes later, match commissary Dalton Wint made the decision at 4 p.m. that conditions were too adverse. For one, the surface was too soaked for the ball to move freely, but even if the obvious healthy drainage system worked that quickly, he reckoned it would consume too much time to have the lines remarked to have sufficient regulation time.

Also, quite disappointing for the good show of fans, the lights erected have not been officially passed.

It was a game both camps badly wanted to be played.

Tivoli's coach Glendon 'Admiral' Bailey was sure his plans to take over the league had been quashed.

"This game was very important based on how we wanted to position ourselves to make the first end of round final," he told The Gleaner.

"We're comfortable with where we're at at this stage since we had not played this game yet and winning would have put us two points clear at the top."

The protracted layoff that will further be extended by this weekend's international friendly between the Reggae Boyz and Trinidad & Tobago will not do his team any good, he said.

Long layoff

"I don't like the long layoff without any competitive football. Our next game is against Waterhouse and I would have loved to go there with some kind of competitive edge."

The home side wanted the game too, but with somewhat with trepid anticipation. They just have a single point and sit at the cellar, while coach Christopher Bender acknowledged being poised to use the game to cement his own position as coach.

"It was disappointing on three fronts," Bender explained.

"This is our first game since the tour of Cayman and we wanted some momentum," he said.

With a 1-1 draw and a 2-0 win in two games against the Cayman national team last weekend, Bender was confident Humble Lion would have put up a good showing and even win their first game of the season.