Portmore slow down Tivoli with late equaliser

Ryon Jones, Gleaner Writer

End-of-Round finalists, Tivoli Gardens, kept their unbeaten home record intact after playing to a 1-1 draw with nemesis Portmore United, in their Digicel Premier League encounter at the Edward Seaga Sports Complex yesterday.

Damion Gordon gave Tivoli the lead in the 32nd minute. But Adoah Nickles' goal six minutes before full time ensured Portmore remain undefeated against Tivoli in their last four league meetings.

The first clear goalscoring opportunity of the game fell to Tivoli's Jameel Thompson in the 13th minute, when Portmore's custodian, Dwayne Kerr, flapped at a corner and missed. However, Thompson headed wide.

Gordon rewarded his coach for having given him his first start of the season and in the process ensured that Tivoli went into the half-time break with a goal, when his deft header in the 32nd minute nestled into the back of the net.

He was the beneficiary of an excellent square from the left flank by Shawn McKoy.

Tivoli's top striker, Devon Hodges, did not come out for the second half, as he was withdrawn after complaining of cramps in his lower thigh. Tivoli also did not show the same intensity that they displayed in the first half.

They nevertheless got a glorious opportunity to go two-nil up in the 81st minute when Kerr's attempted clearance struck Keammear Daley before falling to substitute Kevin Deer. However, Kerr redeemed himself by pulling off a smart save to his right, to thwart his former Portmore teammate.

Very disappointed

Tivoli's assistant coach, Glendon 'Admiral' Bailey, was very disappointed with the draw and even more so his team's second-half performance.

"With the fact that we went in the lead in the first half I think we played a sloppy second half," Bailey stated.

"It is good that we did not lose the game ... but at the same time I am disappointed with the draw," he added.

Kerr's save proved to be an important one as Under-21 player, Nickles, rose above everyone to head in a corner kick from Eric Vernan in the 84th minute, to secure his team's fourth draw in five games.

Second start

This was Nickles' second start of the season for the senior team, after picking up an injury in their opening encounter.

Desmond Smith, assistant coach of Portmore United, was pleased with the point and his team's overall performance.

Smith said: "We knew it was always going to be a tough game; leaving here with a point is a plus for us. Defensively, we lapsed once and Tivoli got a goal, but as the game progressed we eventually took over the game and we got a goal."