Tivoli-Waterhouse final

Ryon Jones, Gleaner Writer

Tivoli Gardens and Waterhouse will contest the first end-of-round final in the Digicel Premier League after scoring victories in yesterday's round of matches.

Waterhouse, through an injury-time goal from Peter Keyes, beat Portmore United 1-0 at Ferdie Neita Park to move to 22 points.

Tivoli advanced to 21 points by stretching their winning streak to four games, while maintaining their unbeaten home record, after clipping Reno 2-1.

Tivoli got their goals from Roland Dean (51st) and Devon Hodges (62nd, penalty), while Reno's consolation was scored by their captain, O'Brian Woodbine (80th, penalty).

In the encounter at the Edward Seaga Sports Complex, Reno were reduced to eight players, as three were shown the red card after the 80th minute.

In the 81st minute, substitute Nicholy Finlayson was ejected for violent conduct; Patterson was then given marching orders in the 88th minute for serious foul play; and Omar Dallas was ejected after picking up a second yellow card in the 90th minute.

Downswell believed some of the officials' decisions were questionable.

"I don't like to question referees, but some of their decisions looked devious and the players let it get to them."

Goalscoring opportunity

The lost effectively ended Reno's chances of gaining a spot, as they have 14 points.

Tivoli showed their intentions from the opening minute when their goalscoring hero from Sunday when they beat Arnett Gardens 1-0, Christopher Jackson, hit a free kick from a short corner position, that was brilliantly tipped over by Reno's custodian, Gavin Barrett.

Reno did not carve out any clear goalscoring opportunity in the first half, but they were able to keep Tivoli at bay, a fact that pleased their coach, Wendell Downswell.

"We came here with the intention of getting at least one point," Downswell stated. "It was a workmanlike performance in the first half; we did not concede a goal."

He added: "We conceded a goal very early in the second half and that sort of set us back."

Dean scored the second-half goal Downswell alluded to in the 51st minute. He ran on to a ball played into the Reno area, before unleashing a powerful right-footed shot, which nestled in the back of the net.

Hodges doubled the score 11 minutes later when he confidently fired home a penalty. The spot kick was awarded after Woodbine was adjudged to have handled in the box.

The much more spirited second-half performance by Tivoli pleased coach Glendon 'Admiral' Bailey.

Bailey said: "I think we came out going through the motions, but we addressed that at half-time. I think we came out half-time with a little more purpose, we played purposeful and we moved the ball around, but it is never easy."

Reno looked set to crawl their way back into the game when they were awarded a penalty in the 80th minute, after Jackson was deemed to have fouled André Patterson in the box.

Woodbine slotted the resulting spot kick past Tivoli's keeper, Edsel Scott.

Yesterday's results

Arnett 1 Humble Lion 1

Benfica 2 Boys' Town 1

Sporting 0 Harbour View 1

St Georges 0 Village 1

Tivoli Gardens 2 Reno 1

Portmore 0 Waterhouse 1