Humble Lion hold Tivoli

Richard Bryan, Gleaner Writer

Tivoli Gardens will have to keep their Digicel Premier League first end-of-round final win over Waterhouse as mere bragging rights, after they failed in their attempt to wrestle the lead from that team, when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Humble Lion at Effortville Community Centre yesterday.

The matchup was a resheduled one and effectively closes competition in the first round with Waterhouse on 25 points and Tivoli two behind on 23.

Humble Lion, despite notching their ninth point in six games under new coach Lenworth Hyde Sr, stay saddled in the relegation zone at 11th place on 10 points.

The Glendon 'Admiral' Bailey-coached side must have felt they were headed for the top of the league standings when they capitialised on Humble Lion's recent vulnerability to conceding early goals as Damion Gordon slotted home in the second minute from their very first raid of the game.

Greater energy

It was a dream start that was later undone by greater energy from the home side and more decisively by a tame penalty call from which Humble Lion would equalise through Loxley Thomas in the 74th minute.

The passage of play suggested that the homesters truly deserved to be on the scoresheet, but they must have felt lady luck finally smiled their way after Kasai Hinds felled substitute Denzil Watson.

Prior to that, they showed no fear attacking Tivoli at will, forcing several good chances and went closer to scoring when Roberto Fletcher hit the crossbar and Andrew Issacs failed to crown his first start after missing an empty target.

Substitute Watson, who came in at the hour mark, provided more problems for Tivoli and in the end deservedly was the man who would save Hyde the anguish of consecutive home defeats.