Audley Boyd, Assistant Sport Editor

WITH ONLY 12 minutes remaining, Fabian Davis gave Tivoli Gardens much-anticipated relief with a thumping goal that secured a 1-0 win over August Town in their Wray and Nephew seventh round National Premier League (NPL) match at Edward Seaga Sports Complex yesterday.

The seasoned campaigners might have expected an easier time at home against newcomers August Town, but they had to fight tooth and nail for the three points they so badly desired after starting the round third from bottom on five points with only one win to their credit.

Yesterday's victory in a game of contrasting halves pushed them some way up the 12-team standings to draw level with the team they conquered on eight points and coach Calvert Fitzgerald, who joined the NPL Top Four team this season, was delighted.

Team showed character

"I feel good because even though it was a 1-0 win, the team showed character - like we are now playing for each other and not ourselves, we showed the grit that is what the premier league demands," Fitzgerald said.

Asked if he had felt pressured by their previous position, the former Waterhouse coach said no because he has the full backing of the club's president.

"Significantly, I have not been pressured. Mr. (Edward) Seaga has been backing me all the way. He came to the games and saw that the team was playing well but some times you just play luckless, so I wasn't under any pressure."

Fortunately for Tivoli, the luck which had deserted them much of the way smiled their way when Davis' shot rocketed off the goalpost and struck August Town goalie, Devon Haughton, before rebounding into the goal.

August Town undone

August Town, who looked more like the seasoned premier leaguers in the first half when they were more threatening, might have felt undone by the result. Moreso, as they missed a chance in the final minute when Jermaine Richards put a rebound off goalie Edsel Scott on to the upright. But their coach, Christopher Bender, was philosophical.

"Overall, I think we can't fault the players on effort. Today we gave a very strong effort but what happened is when you dominate teams like Tivoli in the first half, (as) I thought we had the better of play, the majority of the play in the first half, we should have scored one or two of the chances we created. They came much stronger in the second half and we gave up a goal."

Tivoli 1

(Fabian Davis 78th)

August Town 0