Paul A. Reid, Staff Reporter
WESTERN BUREAU:
UGLY CLASHES between players on the field, skirmishes between spectators on the sidelines and bottles thrown on the field from the stands marred Wednesday night's exciting Wray and Nephew National Premier League game between Wadadah and defending champions Tivoli Gardens at Jarrett Park.
The game, the second of a Jamaica Football Federation Football Festival, was held up for about 10 minutes late in the second half after Tivoli's Oraine Simpson floored Wadadah's midfielder Daniel Ricketts in what it appeared to be retaliation after being hit off the ball earlier by Rickett's teammate, Jermaine Anderson.
UGLY SCENES
The ensuing fracas spilled over to the sidelines and saw ugly scenes, especially from the Tivoli bench where coach Glendon 'Admiral' Bailey and assistant coach Desmond Francis were involved in profanity-laced tirades with spectators.
Simpson was subsequently sent off and Ricketts could not continue and had to be substituted.
The Gleaner saw one member of the Tivoli Gardens entourage being dragged away by alert uniformed police who were at the game. The Tivoli man was soon released and returned to the sidelines after the game resumed.
Tivoli won the game 3-1 after three first-half goals from Christopher Jackson in the 17th minute, Christopher Nicholas in the 21st and Ian McAnuff in the 45th.
Ricketts scored Wadadah's lone goal in the 24th minute.
PLACE IN SEMI-FINALS
The points kept Tivoli in third and after Arnett Gardens' loss earlier in the day to Waterhouse, ensured them a place in the semi-finals.
Portmore, who beat Village 2-0, lead with 63 points; Harbour View, who were surprised by last-placed Invaders 1-0 in the first game at Jarrett Park , are next on 62 points, while Waterhouse are in fourth place with 60 points.
Bailey was satisfied with the result, but had problems with the inconsistency of his team.
Speaking to the press after the game, Bailey said: "We were playing nice and patient in the first half and playing the ball around and we looked hungry and this is a good sign going into the semi-finals, knowing we have got back that hungriness. But then again, I am still concerned as for the whole season we have been inconsistent, one game we are up, the next one down," he said.
POOR DEFENCE
As for what looked like a letdown in the second half, Bailey said: "That is the nature of the football, you go up two easy goals then comes the second half and we started to relax. We came out flat in the second half, we got the chance to put away Wadadah but to come so far and get a victory must be a good thing."
Wadadah's coach, Anthony 'Follis' Williams, did not seem too upset with his team's loss, saying they had lost just twice in their past 10 games but said poor defensive play let them down.
The game appeared to be petering out in the second half when the match deteriorated. The game was eventually completed after eight minutes were added, but the tensions lasted well after the game and the Tivoli players and officials had to be escorted from the venue by police.
