Bailey displeased with play, but happy for points

Tivoli Gardens took the honours on Sunday in the battle of the Gardens when they defeated their fierce rivals Arnett Gardens 1-0 at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex.

Christopher Jackson made the difference between the two teams, as he steered his shot home from just about the six-yard box, as a rebound from a corner fell perfectly for him.

With the win, the Glendon 'Admiral' Bailey-coached team moved up to 18 points, one behind leaders Waterhouse. With a game in hand, the western Kingston-based team has set itself up nicely for a place in the end-of-round final.

Coach Bailey was happy for the win, but felt the performance was not of the best.

"In terms of how we played the football, I am not pleased with it. We are a better team than that," he said.

Sudden resignation

"We spoke about it at the end of the first half and we improved in the second half. Playing at Arnett is never easy, and once you can come here and go away with three points then you have to give thanks," said a relaxed Bailey, who was getting the better of his friend and dancehall deejay counterpart, Richard 'Charlie Chaplin' Bennett.

Bennett, who was filling in following Thursday's sudden resignation of coach Wayne Fairclough, lauded his players for their effort.

"I am proud of the way the players played. They stuck to the plan but unfortunately the game does not lie with the players. It lies with the referee and all kinds of conditions. The other team fought well and it was a soft goal, but it counted in the end," a disappointed Bennett said following his team's third home loss of the season, a result which saw them slip a place to ninth.

Both teams started out strongly with Tivoli Gardens looking just a shade better than the home team. Keammar Daley showed quality for Tivoli Gardens and Devon Hodges was a handful for Ryan Powell, who stayed close to him. While Daley fired a free kick just wide from about 22-yards in the ninth minute, James Durrant wasted two early opportunities for the home team.

Within the last five minutes of the first half, cracks began to appear in the Arnett Gardens defence as a headed back pass from Powell forced a scrambling save from Julian McLeish in the 41st minute. Three minutes later, Daley showed great resilience just outside the six-yard box, fighting off strong challenges and shooting just wide.

Christopher Jackson had a solid drive parried for a corner on the stroke of half-time. The resultant corner fell kindly for him from a rebound, which he steered home with the side of the boot, turned away and raced upfield in glee.

- Nodley Wright