RUDOLPH BROWN PHOTO: Tivoli Gardens' striker Christopher Nicholas bumps into Constant Spring's defender Sean Hunter (in front) during their Wray and Nephew National Premier League match at Constant Spring yesterday. Tivoli won 1-0.
Daraine Luton, Freelance Writer
UNRULY SPECTATORS disrupted proceedings in the Wray and Nephew National Premier League game between Tivoli Gardens and Constant Spring, forcing referee Clive Wright to call a temporary halt to play for almost 10 minutes.
The spectators were protesting a most comical ruling made by the referee concerning a goal that he first disallowed, then allowed, and finally disallowed.
All this happened six minutes from time after Constant Spring's Steve Morris had succeeded in getting the ball past Tivoli's goalkeeper Edsel Scott.
The homesters and their spectators thought they had drawn level with Tivoli, who had gotten their goal in the 63rd minute from the boot of Roland Dean.
However, much to the dismay of Spring', Wright's assistant Richard Garcia held up his flag for handball, a decision the referee overruled and pointed to the spot. But some obviously disappointed Tivoli fans hurled missiles at the Garcia, resulting in Wright stopping the game and going to his assistance. This brought another twist to the saga as Wright, after consulting with Garcia, disallowed the goal. Of course, this triggered another round of throwing and expletives, this time from the Constant Spring spectators, some of whom had to be restrained by police officers.
"Why dem always try dem best fi thief wi out," lammented one spectator.
Constant Spring were suffering their second consecutive 1-0 loss in as many Premier League games, having bowed 0-1 to Harbour View last week.
Defeat meant that they remain on nine points after seven games, causing coach Maurice 'Danny' Lyn to say that they are now in a "must win" situation if they are to qualify for the second End-of-Round final.
"We have Wadadah next and if we are to stand any chance we must win our next three or four games," Lyn said.
Meanwhile, Tivoli with the win jumped to 14 second round points and 37 overall. Their coach, Glendon "Admiral" Bailey, said: "Tivoli is comfortable with the rate at which we are going. We only won by a goal today but it is three points nonetheless," Bailey added.
Tivoli ended the physical encounter with 10-men after Orane Simpson was ejected in the eighth minute for striking Nigel Reid in the face with his elbow.
