By Daraine Luton, Freelance Writer
Tivoli Gardens' Christopher Nicholas runs with the ball while Arnett Gardens' Jonathan Grant gives chase during the Jackie Bell KO semi-final at Harbour View Mini Stadium yesterday. Both Nicholas and Williams scored for a 1-1 full time score. Tivoli won 4-3 on penalties.
Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
TIVOLI GARDENS yesterday planted thorns in Arnett Gardens while Boys' Town's 'Red Brigades' locked off the pipes on Constant Spring in NEM/KSAFA Jackie Bell knock-out semi-final action at the Harbour View Mini Stadium.
For their part, both Tivoli and Boy's Town advanced to the final with identical wins.
Boys' Town outscored Constant Spring 4-2 on penalties after both teams had played to a 1-1 relegation and extra-time scoreline.
Boys' Town's coach, Andrew Price, said: "Good character was showed by the team and we look forward for the finals."
"I don't want to comment on Constant Spring's performance," said their coach, Geoffrey Maxwell. "I just want to congratulate Boys' Town."
Tivoli were 4-3 penalty kick victors over their arch-rivals from the 'Jungle' after they, too, had shared two goals down the middle.
PREPARATION PAID OFF
Glendon 'Admiral' Bailey, coach of Tivoli, said: "We made preparation so that if it came down to this (penalties) and it paid off."
He added: "Every year you have a giant killer and Boys' Town are giant killers and we're looking forward to playing them."
Hugh McCarthy, technical director of the beaten 'Junglists', said "losing Walter Boyd and Chin-Sue early in the game contributed to the game coming down into penalty."
In the curtain raiser, the Super League big boys took Constant Spring to school, enjoying superior ball possession throughout the game. With former national player Fitzroy Anglin dictating the game from his central midfield position, Constant Spring were only able to go forward through counter attacking plays.
Hard work paid dividends for the Rema-based side in the 71st minute when Jermaine Bailey converted from the penalty spot. Marlon Bennet had taken down Rollin Francis in the penalty area after the former was dispossessed by the hardworking attacker, forcing referee Hughill Thompson to point to the spot.
Bailey's effort was, however, cancelled out in the 83rd minute by a Newton Sterling glancing header that was parried into the goal by Boys' Town's goalie Kirk Porter.
Substitute Marcus Parkes then got the chance to put the game beyond Constant Spring after Francis fed him a pass of pin-point accuracy dead in front of goal. Instead of shooting one time, Parkes tried to dress the ball and was robbed by the 'Spring's defence, forcing the game into sudden-death extra-time.
LOOKED HUNGRIER
Although they looked hungrier than Constant Spring in both halves, the 'Red Brigade' came up with straws, forcing them into the dreaded penalty kicks.
Constant Spring entrusted Daemion Benjamin with the responsibility of taking the first kick but 'Duppy Man' Porter in goal seemed to have scared him as he kicked wide. From there on it was no recovery for Constant Spring as Anglin, Michael Campbell, Andrew Wheeler and Bailey all converted to send their team into the finals.
In the big clash that followed, Arnett drew first blood but were unable to keep check of Tivoli, who outplayed them but left it up to penalty kicks to decide their fate.
With the game only four minutes old, Walter Boyd made good on a Gerald Neil cross, turning away from two defenders hounding him before setting up Jonathan Williams with a timely pass which he converted.
However, the celebration of the team was curtailed by concern as Cornel-Chin Sue and Boyd had to be substituted due to injuries before the 20th minute.
This meant the turning point for Tivoli as they took control of midfield, forcing Arnett on the backfoot.
The 'Junglists' also contributed to their demise by not converting the half chances which they created. They could also consider themselves a bit unlucky as Ray Graham, the man who replaced Boyd, fired a spectacular 25-yard shot that sailed over the head of Tivoli's goalie, Edsel Scott, and crashed off the crossbar back into play.
Tivoli hit back seven minutes into the second half through a Christopher Nicholas penalty, after Keith Kelly was adjudged by referee Peter Prendergast to have handled the ball in the box. When the equaliser came, Tivoli tried to up the tempo on Arnett. However, their strides were curtailed by brilliant goalkeeping from Julian McLeish and stout defending by Jerry Walters. The latter in particular was a thorn in Roland Dean's flesh.
However, Although Dean was kept quiet, Nicholas, Christopher Jackson and Fabian Davis were in a shooting mood but McLeish was too good for them.
His exploits gave Arnett hope of making the Jackie Bell finals an all south St. Andrew affair but ill finishing from his strikers and brilliant goalkeeping by his opposite number Scott saw Tivoli through. Scott saved penalties from Kevin Wilson, and Wayne Ellis to complement those converted by team-mates Orane Simpson Jackson and Kasai Hinds.
