Tivoli Gardens edged 10-men Harbour View 3-1 in their Jamaica Premier League match at the UWI-JFF Captain Horace Burrell Centre of Excellence and significantly enhanced their playoff hopes.
It was a result that elevated Tivoli Gardens four places into the fourth spot on nine points from six games, which puts them in the driver’s seat in securing a top-six playoff position.
But despite remaining in the third spot on nine points, it was a hard blow for Harbour View as they have played one more game and face the possibility of dropping out of the top six in a tightly knitted mid-table.
But the writing was on the wall for Tivoli Gardens to secure maximum points after Harbour View lost young defender Tarick Ximinies who picked up two yellow cards in four-minute either side of the half.
The Jamaica College player got his first yellow card in the 44th minute in the first half and in the 48th minute in the second half and dejectedly walked from the field, kicking the air in frustration as he knew his team would be on the back foot already trailing 0-1.
Defender Kemar Flemmings had given Tivoli Gardens a 28th minute lead via the penalty spot after referee Daneon Parchment initially signalled for a corner kick, but in consultation with his assistant, he awarded the penalty.
But in form Oquassa Chong pulled Harbour View levelled in the 59th minute rifling home a torrid right-footer from just inside the box after being teed up by veteran Lovel Palmer.
It was Chong’s fifth goal of the season and he continues to lead the goalscoring chart in the race for the golden boots award.
But Chong was overshadowed by Man of the Match Asprellia Alexander of Tivoli Gardens who netted two late goals in the 89th and 90+5 after coming on in the 66th minute.
It was a deserved victory for Tivoli Gardens and head coach Phillip Williams was a relieved man as his team finally took maximum points while playing with a one-man advantage.
“I am very pleased with the performance. We are at a stage of the competition where we needed to put in a win on the board and I asked the guys and they delivered today,” said Williams.
Meanwhile, it was another sombre day for Harbour View’s head coach Ludlow Bernard as his team failed to click into gear in another disappointing display.
“Clearly very disappointed as nothing went for us today. We came with a plan but it just didn’t work out. We created a number of chances early and I thought that if we had taken a couple of those it would have settled us a bit,” he noted.
Man-of-the-Match: Asprellia Alexander (Tivoli Gardens)
Teams
Harbour View: Tafari Chamber, 03-Tarick Ximinies, 17-Ajeanie Talbott, 44-Lovel Palmer (10-Jermaine Johnson 71st), 12-Casseam Priestly, 21-Odorland Harding, 16-Garth Stewart (29-Oshane Staple 54th), 13-Cristojaye Daley (31-Gerald Neil Jnr 54th), 08-Lennox Russell (24-Ronaldo Robinson 77th), 22-Oquassa Chong, 15-Tyrese Williams (30-Tevin Scott 46th.
Subs not used: 50-Akeem Smith, 23-Saqlain Waul, 28-Shawn Daley,45-Renaldo Wellington, 27-Jamone Shepherd.
Coach: Ludlow Bernard
Booked: Lovel Palmer 26th, Tarick Ximinies 44th and 47th, Lennox Russell 74th, Oshane Staple 90+1.
Tivoli Gardens: 01-Davin Watkins, 05-Barrington Pryce, 32-Odean Pennycooke, 14-Kemar Flemmings, 08-Shavar Campbell, 18-Devroy Grey, 19-Rushane Thompson (16-Clinton Ashley 66th), 06-Horatio Morgan (15-Dasha Satchwell 85th), 38-Romaine Bowers (10-Jermaine Johnson 66th), 29-Earon Elliott (28-Asprellia Alexander 67th), 27-Tkiven Garnett.
Subs not used: 33-Edsel Scott, 24-Steve McQueen, 21-Justin Dunn, 20-Anthony Nelson, 25-Tommy Lawrence.
Coach: Philip Williams
Booked: Kemar Flemmings 74th, Jermaine Johnson 74th
Referee: Daneon Parchment
Assistant Referee 1: Nicholas Anderson
Assistant Referee 2: Ojay Duhaney
Fourth Official: Veralton Nembhard
Match Commissioner: Raymond Anderson
For more information contact JPL @ jplcomms@gmail.com