Dean

ROLAND DEAN is on fire. The Tivoli Gardens Football Club striker gave a magnificent display, as he extended his irrepressible early-season form on Wednesday, burying a hat-trick past Rivoli United in their 3-1 victory in the Digicel Premier League match at Edward Seaga Sports Complex to cop the Performer of the Week tag this week.

Dean, who is also the team's captain, has now scored a remarkable six out of seven Tivoli goals this season.

The pacy striker, who once held a place in the national starting XI, began unfurling misery on Rivoli in the 25th minute, a play which emanated from a corner.

Craig Stewart played the spot kick short to Christopher Jackson, who then hit a grounded cross to Dean, who advanced to the pass, set up the ball well with his right foot before sweetly driving it past goalkeeper Leighton Murray from 12 yards.

Simple task

Murray practically gifted him the second goal, as he spilled a cross at the forward's feet inside the six-yard box. Credit, however, must be given to the forward for following the ball because if he had done otherwise the goalkeeper might have had enough time to correct his mistake. As it turned out, Dean was given the simple task of putting the ball into the goal at a critical period, three minutes into the second half to give his team a buffer.

Throughout the game, Dean's characteristic good movements off the ball were bothersome in opening Rivoli's defence, as well as creating a passing outlet when he dropped off the forward line to hold up the ball and relay some decent passes wide - which he did on many occasions, along with setting up some goal chances that weren't converted.

It may have reminded of his Manning Cup days, under coach Dave Clarke, at Tivoli Gardens Comprehensive, when he mastered the art of darting so well into space and providing goal passes as an attacking midfielder playing right behind the forwards.

And he has other skills too, as a dead-ball specialist which he displayed when netting his final goal from a free-kick 20 yards out, curling it over the wall into the pigeon hole, leaving the goalkeeper a mere spectator.

Don't forget, too, that Dean had scored the equaliser in their 2-1 come-from-behind win over Waterhouse in Sunday's Digicel Premier League match at Edward Seaga Sports Complex.

That's four goals in two matches. Really hot stuff.

- Audley Boyd