Boys' Town striker Denzil Watson (left) collides with Tivoli Gardens goalkeeper, Leon Gordon, during the opening KSAFA/Western Union Jackie Bell KO semi-final match at the National Stadium yesterday. Boys' Town won 1-0. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer

Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter

Defending champions Boys' Town kept their hopes of retaining the KSAFA/Western Union Jackie Bell KO in good stead, when they got by Tivoli Gardens 1-0 in the first of two semi-finals at the National Stadium yesterday.

In a closely contested game it was Boys' Town striker George Vernal who delivered the goods with his 31st minute strike.

Vernal slid in to find the net from two yards away after substitute Peter Keyes had whipped the ball low and hard across the face of goal.

Keyes had been unexpectedly introduced into action, following Michael Campbell's departure with an injury following a 22nd minute collision with Tivoli Gardens custodian, Leon Gordon.

The west Kingston team were, however, determined to get back on level terms and they nearly did so through left back Christopher Jackson in the 36th minute. The speedy Jackson unleashed a fierce left-footed cannonball to goal and his team would certainly have been level if it were not for the heroics of Boys' Town custodian Kirk Porter, who parried away the effort at full stretch.

Their hopes of getting back in the game would be dealt a severe blow when referee Winston Delahaye sent centre half Kasai Hinds to an early shower, after he had recklessly plunged into Marvin Morgan.

Despite being a man down Tivoli would not look hampered in pressing for the equaliser.

Their coach, Calvert Fitzgerald, would make two attacking changes which would see both Nicholas McCreath and Horace Howell introduced to the fray. However, like the 75th minute square whipped across goal which would see Steve Green stretch in vain, their efforts would come up inches short.

"We just didn't turn up today, this was not our average performance. We were slow, never won any second ball and had very few shots to goal," was Fitgerald's analysis of the game.

"We had no aggresion, no energy. We just went out there and strolled through the 90 minutes," he added.

For Boys' Town assistant coach, Perry Bartley, who has seen several key players recover from injuries in recent weeks, thinks the performance of his team was a satisfactory one.

"I'm very happy with the team. A one-nil victory over Tivoli Gardens is always going to be a good one," he said.

"In the earlier part of the season we were injured but it's coming together now and we are working hard." he added.

He had no preference in terms of an opponent in the final, as Harbour View and Waterhouse battled for that spot in the game other semi-final that followed.

"Right now it doesn't matter, whosoever will may come we will be going out there to defend our title."