Jermaine Lannaman, Gleaner Writer

Harbour View's captain Jermaine Hue celebrates with the Digicel First Round Final Trophy after his team defeated Tivoli 2-1 at the National Stadium yesterday. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer

Two high-quality goals from Jermaine Hue and Kavin Bryan handed Harbour View their first title of the season when they defeated Tivoli Gardens 2-1 in the end-of- first-round final of the Digicel Premier League at the National Stadium yesterday.

The duo scored in the sixth and 37th minutes, respectively, as Tivoli, who were playing without their head coach, Lenworth Hyde Sr, who is away with the National Under-20 squad in Aruba, had no answer for the men from the east, who in winning pocketed $250,000.

Tivoli, who took home $150,000 for their efforts, got their consolation goal through speedy defender Jameel Thompson. Thompson netted during a goal-mouth melee four minutes from the end.

"It was a good game of football," said Harbour View technical director, Brazilian Waldermar De Oliveira, who was among the many Harbour View supporters, who took an opportunity to kiss and hold aloft the winning trophy after the presentation was made.

"We had our best game when we beat Tivoli at Harbour View earlier in the season, and today again we did likewise. We have a terrific set of guys, who believe in themselves and their abilities and today was just a manifestation of that. I am very happy," he added.

Not a classic by any stretch of the imagination, Harbour View, who have a two point lead ahead Tivoli in the overall Premiership race, took the lead with most of the grandstand-only spectators yet to find their seats.

Comfort zone

Presented with a free kick on the right hand side, and into his comfort zone, Hue curled his effort up and over the wall, and despite a gallant effort by Gordon in goal for Tivoli, the ball found the back of net.

The game then swung from end to end with Harbour View going in search of a second, and Tivoli trying to get back on level terms, but it was the leaders through Bryan, who came up trumps.

Down 2-0 and needing an inspirational second-half performance to rekindle their chances, Tivoli then came roaring out of the break, and in the 46th minute all but pulled one back through striker, Roland Dean.

In what was a brilliant one-two play between strike partner Navion Boyd and himself, both of whom mixed showings, Dean found himself with only the goalkeeper to beat atop of the area, but his point-blank effort was smartly saved by Harbour View's Dwayne Miller.

The effort turned out to be Tivoli's second-best effort throughout the second stanza, with the best, Thompson's goal, coming a little too late.

"I thought we allowed Tivoli too much playing space in the first half. We did a better job in the second but in the end it was not enough," said Tivoli assistant coach, Max Straw. "We wanted to win to keep our spectators and community happy, but it was not to be.

"But we have to look a the bigger picture. Our aim is to win the Premiership. We are two points off the leaders, and this result will in no way change our ambitions," he added.

Tivoli's Dean, and Harbour View midfielder Rafeik Thomas were both ejected two minutes from the end for violent conduct.