Dwight Nelson, Gleaner Writer
Sporting Central Academy and Tivoli Gardens played to a 0-0 draw in their Cash Plus Premier League match at Brancourt yesterday.
In a workman-like and exciting encounter, both teams exhibited a high level of skill and tactical ball movements by spreading the ball around the field.
The Sporting Central team had its greatest opportunity in the 10th minute when Ian Palmer's shot from inside the 18-yard box was saved off the goal line by the very hard working Tivoli defender, Dwight Heron.
The second half had a bit more tension than the first half as both teams tried relentlessly to break the deadlock with several attacks.
Within the last quarter of the game Tivoli stepped up their pace to another level and made several attacks on the Sporting Central goal area through Roland Dean and substitute Jermaine Grey.
Best chance
They got their best chance to score in the last minute when Grey's header from a corner was crashed against the upright.
"Tivoli did not move well off the ball and we did not get enough movements from the players upfront and the link men did not execute that well," was the assesement of Tivoli's coach, Desmond Francis.
Christopher Dawes, Sporting Central's coach, said: "I think my team played very well and it was a good tactical game."
He added: "We gave up possession a bit very easy but overall a draw was a good result for us."
Tivoli stayed top ofm the ladder on 53 points, three ahead of Portmore United who hosted August Town in last night's late game.
Village 3 Arnett 1
Meanwhile, Sporting Central inched up to 34 points while holding their place at eighth, one behind Village United which beat Arnett 3-1 at Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex.
Lacon Brissett led the Trelawny team with a hat-trick, scoring in the first, 49th and 66th minutes. Kevin Wilson scored a penalty for Arnett at the 18th minute after Shane Edwards had been fouled. The Junglists are third from bottom on 31 points.
At Drewsland, homesters Waterhouse registered a 1-0 win over Boys' Town courtesy of a 39th minute strike by Jonathan Williams. The win kept Waterhouse fourth, but they advanced to 42 points, one less than Boys' Town.
Reno, paced by two goals from O'brien Woodbine, also won, beating St Georges 3-1 at St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS). Reno stayed second from bottom as it moved to 30 points, while St Georges remained at 35. At press time, Seba United and Harbour were also involved in a late match last night, at Jarrett Park.
