Paul-Andre Walker, Staff Reporter
DEAN
TIVOLI GARDENS enabled the chasing Wray and Nephew National Premier League pack to gain some much-needed ground on Harbour View after a 3-2 victory at the Edward Seaga Stadium last night.
Tivoli's win meant that Harbour View, who have dropped nine points in their last four games, though this was their first loss of the second round, are now only eight points ahead of second-place Waterhouse with 43 points.
Starting sprightly, 'the Stars of the East' were pegged back in the 34th minute by a red card to Luton Shelton, who was having, until that point, a 'belter of a game'.
Harbour View responded well to the loss with Kevin King's 41st-minute strike from a Loxley Thomas cross.
Thomas' cross came after a defensive error and a well-constructed bit of individual skill that left two players in his wake.
SPIRIT
However, Christopher Nicholas' goal in time added on to the first-half dampened Harbour View's spirit just before the break.
In the second half, Tivoli pushed home their numerical advantage with a 58th-minute close-range scorcher from Roland Dean.
Tivoli didn't stop there and in the 75th minute, Oraine Simpson all but put the game out of contention with a powerful header.
Then Tivoli lost their one-man advantage after Dwight Heron received his second yellow card for a tackle on King.
With the numbers even, Harbour View rallied towards the end and were justly rewarded with a 90th- minute goal from the head of Oniel Thompson.
After the game, Tivoli's coach Glendon 'Admiral' Bailey lauded his team's effort.
INJURY PROBLEMS
"As I have been saying all along, we haven't had our full slate of players available to us right through the season because of injury problems and disciplinary problems. We started to get back some of those players and they have been showing that they want to play," said Bailey.
Harbour View's coach Donovan Hayles was disappointed with the result.
"The red card set us back but I think we defended atrociously and Tivoli could have scored four or five goals. However, I'm pleased with the effort that the team gave. I couldn't have asked for more," he said.
GOALSHEET
Tivoli 3
Chris Nicholas 45th, Roland Dean 58th, Oraine Simpson 75h
Harbour View 2
Kevin King 41st, Oniel Smith 90th
