Blackburn looking to fill void left by Daley

Ryon Jones, Gleaner Writer

Not even the heavy downpour that preceded the west Kingston derby between Boys' Town and Tivoli Gardens in the National Premier League could deter fans from turning out in their numbers at Collie Smith Drive yesterday for what was a keenly contested encounter.

The two teams that had last season engaged in a keen tussle for the league crown, which was eventually won by Tivoli by a mere four points courtesy of a 1-0 victory over Boys' Town in the final round of games, had to settle for a share of the points, as they played to a 2-2 draw.

The win left Boys' Town still searching for their first win after four games, as they progressed to two points. Tivoli, on the other hand, dropped their first points of the season and sit on seven.

Yesterday's matchup was significantly influenced by some of the new faces acquired by both teams during the offseason. Two of Tivoli's new signees, Mitchily Waul, formerly of Harbour View, August Town and Cavalier, and Marcelino Blackburn, who came over from Harbour View, netted in the third and 32nd minute respectively. Boys' Town responded through goals from Owen Powell, who played for Tivoli last season and Renae Lloyd. Their goals came in the 14th and 83rd minute respectively.

Blackburn, brought in to fill the void left by influential playmaker Keammar Daley, who now represents League One club Preston North End, had looked far from convincing in his previous two games, but now hopes that his first goal for his new club will act as a catalyst for him growing into the role.

"With Kemmar Daley leaving Tivoli it was thought I'm the right type of player to fit in for him," Blackburn explained.

"He is a very good player, so I'm trying to work myself in to play like him," he added.

Blackburn was confident of getting one past Boys' Town coming into the encounter and was naturally pleased with having been able to do so.

"I always score at the Boys' Town field so I knew I was going to score before the match even start," Blackburn said. "The reason why I wasn't playing good in the past two games was my fitness."

Blackburn's goal came about as a result of Waul's industry after he chased down what appeared to be a lost cause to force a mistake from Boys' Town's custodian, Kirk Porter, who failed to gather an innocuous-looking pass. Jameel Thompson was on hand to capitalise on the mistake and pass to the unmarked Blackburn in the area, who fired into the unguarded net.

Blackburn's goal came after Waul himself had opened the scoring in the third minute, as he bundled home after a flowing counter-attacking moving.

The home team cancelled out Waul's goal in the 14th minute when Powell towered over everyone to get off a crisp header from a corner delivered by Marvin Stewart.

Lloyd salvaged a point for his team in the 83rd minute when he stepped up to convert a penalty, after Damion Gordon was adjudged to have handled in the area.