Nodley Wright, Freelance Reporter

Village's Fabian Dawkins ... struck twice against Tivoli. - File

TIVOLI GARDENS' manager, Brian Rose, was at a loss for words to explain the championship contenders' humiliating 3-0 defeat at the hands of cellar team Village United, in the Cash Plus Premier League at Elliston Wakeland Centre on Sunday.

"We looked very flat. I cannot say what the reason was for our appearance and the way we played," Rose said.

"For a whole game we did not have a single shot on goal. Maybe they were a bit too complacent. Before the game, we spoke to them about being complacent or taking a team too lightly," a befuddled Rose said.

Sunday's victory extended Village United's winning run to three in a row, following a 2-0 win over Waterhouse and a 3-0 win over Boys' Town.

Fabian Dawkins had a double in the ninth and 57th minutes, while Ricardo Reid struck in the 18th minute.

While good, the win only gave Village's coach, Paul 'Tegat' Davis, the appetite for more.

"We have not turned the corner as yet. We are still in the relegation zone. We have another six or seven games to win before we get out of that position," said Davis.

Tivoli remained second on 40 points, three adrift leaders Portmore United, who hammered Sporting Central Academy 3-1 in the other Premier League match on Sunday. Village advanced to 22 points, one ahead of August Town and two behind Arnett Gardens and Reno, who have all played one less game.

Looking more composed than their highly fancied opponents, the home team went at the visitors with a purpose and Reid, especially, who was fortunate to start the game, was a thorn in the Tivoli defence.

The first goal resulted from a run he made at the defence when a ball he played inside was not properly dealt with. Dawkins was on hand to blast past Edsel Scott.

Nine minutes later, Village were two up and again Reid had a part to play in it. He capitalised on a defensive error to slide home a ball while the Tivoli defence stood around in disarray.

Village got a number of other chances in the first half but could not increase their lead as Marrian Grant, one of four overseas-based players at the club, Dawkins and Orlando McBayne could not score.

The more-fancied Tivoli Gardens looked a shadow of themselves - especially Roland Dean, Christopher Jackson and Oraine Simpson, all of whom have, at some point, been associated with the national team. Only Dwight Heron and goalkeeper Edsel Scott showed a positive outlook.

Reid's industry was instrumental to Village's third goal. His shot from just inside the 18-yard box struck the bar and rebounded to Troy Smith to the right of the goal. Smith's cross was turned back across the goal by Reid for Dawkins to head home and wrap up the victory.