Tivoli drub Waterhouse

André Lowe, Gleaner Writer

Tivoli Gardens (TG) embarrassed Waterhouse 5-1 in last night's Digicel Premier League first end-of-round final inside the National Stadium, on the back of some clinical finishing and an inspired performance from Edsel Scott in goal.

It was TG's sixth win over their rivals in their last 10 clashes and the first time since 2006 that more than five goals were scored in a first end-of-round final.

Tivoli earned $250,000 for their success, while Waterhouse got $150,000 for being runners-up.

It should also be noted that Tivoli won last year's first end-of-round final, beating St Georges Sports Club on that occasion (2-1). But this year, Waterhouse would feel their wrath.

"We turned up in a business-like manner today," smiled Tivoli Gardens' coach, Glendon 'Admiral' Bailey. "We were ready to get the job done. The first goal set the tone for the game and hit the sting out of them (Waterhouse)."

Waterhouse captain, goalkeeper Richard McCallum, was apologetic and sought to assure that his team is ready to bounce back.

Waterhouse apologise

"We want to apologise to the entire Waterhouse community and supporters for this result. We are sorry," McCallum lamented. "We played horribly and deserved to lose."

Waterhouse started brightly and by the look of things, it was going to be their night. The Drewsland-based team looked in ominous form with their brand of close and smooth passing, indicating that it would be a rough day for the Tivoli Gardens defenders.

Jermaine Anderson tested Scott in the TG goal with an audacious 35-yard piledriver during one of the team's many early raids.

Things, however, went sour for the league leaders after seven minutes as national striker, Keammar Daley, skilfully rounded a defender at the top of the penalty box before firing a fierce right-footer beyond McCallum and into the back of the net.

The four-time champions were lifted by the goal and became a team possessed as they set up camp inside the Waterhouse half with relentless pressure.

Waterhouse managed to wrestle their way back into the contest and almost found parity after Akeem Thenstead bettered TG defender Christopher Jackson, before teeing up a teasing grass-cutting cross in the 20th minute, which, agonisingly, missed Anderson's desperate lunge.

Tivoli Gardens did, however, get that second goal in minute 27 - a gift really - as midfielder Jameel Thompson beat McCallum to a deep right-sided cross from Steve Green to nod the ball into an empty net. The goalkeeper was clearly annoyed with himself, and quite rightly so, as he had journeyed some 12 yards off his line and failed to make contact with the ball. There was now a mountain to climb for the Waterhouse team.

Waterhouse almost pulled one back two minutes after the restart, but defender Rohan Amos showed why he spends most of his time in his own penalty box as he scuffed a glorious chance, volleying a corner kick over the bar from inside the six-yard box.

Amos, in fact, did not fare any better at the other end, as it was his mistake on minute 62 that allowed Devon Hodges to make it 3-0 and put to rest any doubts of a comeback.

Dean added insult to injury out-hustling and outsprinting Keneil Moodie before cooly finishing around the onrushing McCallum.

Vincent Earle scored a consolation penalty in the 73rd minute past Scott - who went on to make several crucial saves throughout the contest - but the proverbial fat lady was already singing.

Substitute Kwame Richardson drove the final nail into the Waterhouse coffin as he latched on to a long pass to finish powerfully in the 89th minute.

"We were sloppy today and very flat, and we paid for that. We were competitive for periods, but that wasn't enough," said Waterhouse assistant coach, Xavier Gilbert, who was, of course, deputising due to the recent resignation of Baris Johnson.