Tivoli top 'Garden derby'

Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter

Tivoli Gardens kept things close at the top of the Cash Plus Premier League when they emerged 1-0 winners of a rugged battle with neighbouring rivals Arnett Gardens at the Tony Spaulding Complex yesterday.

Victory in the 'Garden derby' saw the West Kingston team temporarily leapfrog Portmore in the standings, moving to 49 points, two ahead of the St Catherine team which had a night fixture at home against St Georges. Arnett remained on 30 points.

In an even first half, Fabian Davis had a glorious opportunity to tip the scales when the 'Junglists' were awarded a penalty in the 17th minute. Tivoli custodian Leon Gordon was judged to have impeded Arnett frontman Onandi Lowe in the area, but made amends when he sprang quickly to keep Davis' penalty attempt out of goal.

Things would only get worse for Arnett three minutes later as a seemingly frustrated Horace Sharpe was shown a straight red card by referee Kevin Thomas, for throwing an elbow to the the face of Tivoli's Dwight Herron.

Craig Stewart heaped even more misery on the 'Junglists' when he collected the ball just inside the area, dismissed an onrushing defender before curling the ball wide of a diving Julian McLeish to score.

Determined to get a share of the points, Arnett were industrious in the second half and Tivoli keeper Gordon was force to go full stretch to keep out a powerful header by Onandi Lowe in the 70th minute.

"We never looked ourselves. We had a penalty, we missed and from there things went downhill," said Arnett coach Jerome Waite. "They have to be commended on their effort, though we played well a man down for most of the game," he added.

Tivoli manager Brian Rose was pleased to see his team move back to the top spot.

"This was an ugly win but still it's three points and we are happy to come out on top in the 'Garden derby'," he said. "We played well in the first half but we went a bit flat in the second and lost the ball too often."

Arnett Gardens 0

Tivoli Gardens 1

Craig Stewart 28th