Cross-town derby turns fiery

TIVOLI GARDENS came from behind twice to beat rivals Waterhouse 3-2 in a pulsating cross-town derby at the Edward Seaga Sports Complex yesterday.

The result lifted Tivoli into seventh spot on 39 points and pushed Waterhouse down to eighth with 38.

Tivoli coach Jerome Waite said it was an important win for his team.

“Today it was a very physical and tactical battle. Waterhouse, a couple games before, were in sixth and they lost their last game before this. So you knew they would come and put up a stunning fight because they want to see if they can get back. But Tivoli is in a position where we need to challenge for the sixth position and what they did today speaks volumes,” said Waite.

He also credited his offence with the likes of Anthony Nelson, Lennox Russell, Nichalia Fuller, and substitute Steve Clarke.

“It was the offence that got things going. The defence did fairly well. It is unfortunate we gave up two goals. But once you lapse, oppositions will create problems, in which Waterhouse scored twice.

“But it wasn’t a situation where the game was difficult although Waterhouse were leading 2-1. It was a matter of how many opportunities we wou!d create, which were few, but we came out victors,” he said.

The visiting Waterhouse were off to a great start when Nicholas Hamilton fired them into the lead after 12 minutes. But Tivoli would soon overcome their sluggish start, and after a couple close misses, Shaquille Jones restored parity in the 35th minute.

The home team took full control after the break and had good openings through Zackrie Wilks, Barrington Pryce, and Nelson. However, it was Waterhouse who went back in front when Tivoli’s defence failed to clear after Diego Haughton parried a free kick, and Elvis Wilson turned the ball inside ‘keeper’s near post to go 2-1 up.

However, Tivoli cancelled that advantage immediately. From the kickoff, Clarke picked up a ball on the right and delivered a precise cross for Nelson to score from two yards.

Waterhouse found it tough to cope with Tivoli’s pace and energy, and in added time, Russell was on hand to stab home another right-sided cross to send the Edward Seaga Sports Complex into a frenzy.

“Playing at home is always the best thing for the Tivoli Gardens family,” Waite added.

“They [fans] are here in numbers, and despite going down on two occasions, they really rallied around their team, and it paid off.”

Waterhouse coach Marcel Gayle said the inexperience of his defence cost them the points. “The maturity and leadership around there (defence), I think we could have done much better. We weren’t covering properly, and it cost us three points.

“Very disappointed. But lessons have to be learned from these mistakes. It was a young backline. We knew it wasn’t going to be an easy game, and I thought we equipped ourselves well. But we made three mistakes, and those mistakes cost us the game.”

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com

YESTERDAY’S RESULTSMolynes 1-1 Chapelton

Humble Lion 1-0 Harbour View

Portmore 1-0 Vere United

Tivoli 3-2 Waterhouse

Cavalier 1-0 Dunbeholden