Adrian Frater, News Editor

Western Bureau:

Tivoli Gardens scored their first win of the 2007-08 Cash Plus Premier League yesterday, when goals by Denroy Gordon and a defender gave them a 2-1 win over Seba United at Jarrett Park in Montego Bay.

"We did not train all week so we decided we would play it cautious by playing one forward and cramming the midfield in the hope that we would at least get a point," said Glendon 'Admiral' Bailey, Tivoli Gardens' coach. "Our plan basically was to try and catch Seba on the counter-attack and work well for us."

By virtue of the win Tivoli, which drew their first two games, remain unbeaten with five points while Seba United, after losing for the first time in three games, are on four points.

The game, which was played under extremely muddy conditions, saw Tivoli striking in the fourth minute when goalkeeper Neil Lynch failed to gather a low cross and the ball rolled to the unmarked Gordon, who calmly slotted in to make the score 1-0.

Good attacks

Finding themselves behind, Seba launched a number of good attacks in a bid to draw level but faulty finishing let them down. Kemar James wasted a good chance in the 11th minute when he fired wide from close range and four minutes later, skipper Ricardo Geddes booted over the crossbar under pressure.

Towards the half-time break, Tiivoli Gardens came close with several good counter-attacks but the Seba defence held firm to prevent them from widening their lead.

The second half saw Seba all but pulling level in the 47th minute when Oliver Trail capitalized on an error in the Tivoli defence, but his side-footed effort struck the upright.

With Tivoli regaining the initiative and looking quite ominous in attack, they double their lead in the 78th minute when, in trying to clear a hard, low cross by Christopher Jackson, Delroy Ellis only managed to put the ball past his own goalkeeper, giving Tivoli a 2-0 advantage.

Seba were thrown a lifeline in the 85th minute when substitute Daniel Rickettes pounced on a cross in the crowded Tivoli defence and slotted the ball out of the reach of goalkeeper Edsel Scott, making the score 2-1.

Seba 1

Daniel Rickettes 85th

Tivoli 2

Denroy Gordon 4th OG (Delroy Ellis 78th)