Davis Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter
Tivoli Gardens drew level with rivals Waterhouse on points following a hard-fought 1-0 win over the dethroned champions in Wray and Nephew Premier League action at the Edward Seaga Sports Complex yesterday.
However, the west-Kingston team, now on 45 points, already eliminated along with Waterhouse from title contention, remain in fifth place on goal difference as they stayed on 11 behind the Drewsland team's 18.
Tivoli captain Fabian Davis steered the 2003 champions to victory when he converted a 13th-minute penalty. Davis, who had proved a menace with two prior free kicks, fired low and hard past Waterhouse custodian Richard McCallum to give the home team the lead.
Davis was given the opportunity to score after Waterhouse's last man Desmond Breakenridge was duped into bringing down Tivoli's Roland Dean in the area. Dean went clattering to the turf after managing to get a leg stretched across a struggling Breakenridge, who inadvertently bundled him over.
Fair reflection
"I think it's a fair reflection of the game today. They got more opportunities than us in the first half but we got the better of them in the second," said Tivoli's coach Calvert Fitzgerald.
"We're out of the running but we looked at our record for the season with each team, we are now level with Waterhouse in terms of wins and losses and that was our motivation today," he added.
Opportunities
Tivoli couldhave added to their lead on several occasions but members of the Waterhouse team must certainly be banging their heads on the changing room wall after the fixtures, as they had several opportunities to at least finish level.
In the 23rd-minute, Demar Phillips darted down the right flank to fire a low cross across the face of goal. But charging in at the back post with a wide open goal, Jomo Gordon fired the ball on to the crossbar from no more than two yards away.
On the stroke of half-time, Gordon's strike partner Brian Wollaston brought down the ball in the area before whipping it across goal. This time an unmarked flank man, Roberto Fletcher, would meet the ball at the back post but blast his shot on the underside of the bar.
The ball bounced straight down and out of the goal, prompting several Waterhouse spectators and officials to speculate as to whether the ball had crossed the line.
"We played a good second half but if you can't finish your chances you will come up a loser at all times," remarked a disappointed Anthony Patrick, coach of Waterhouse.
"We have been hasty in front of goal in the last couple of games but we have also been a bit unlucky," he added.
| Tivoli | 1 |
Fabian Davis 13th Waterhouse | 0 |
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