TG move closer 1-0 win keeps unbeaten run intact
TIVOLI Gardens kept their unbeaten run in the Digicel Premier League third round intact after scoring a 1-0 win over August Town at the Edward Seaga Complex yesterday.
Jameel Thompson netted the only goal 36 minutes into the match as the first-round champions moved to within three points of leaders Harbour View, who were idle yesterday.
Coach Lenworth Hyde said it was a tale of two halves, but he was happy his team came away with the points.
“They had the better of the first-half… but (in) the second half we came out purposeful and we got three points. But Harbour View was idle today and so we got closer to them,” he said.
In a scrappy affair, the visitors had two glorious opportunities through captain Aphas Bernard in the first half, and must have considered themselves unfortunate to be behind at the break.
The midfielder should have given August Town the lead on 25 minutes when a cross from the right found him unmarked inside the area. But with only goalie Edsel Scott to beat, he kicked across the goal from five yards.
Tivoli went ahead soon after when Thompson made room for himself on top of the area and fired at goal; however, his shot deflected off an August Town player and sent goalkeeper Devon Haughton the wrong way.
TJust before the break, Bernard combined with Akeem Thenstead to open up the Tivoli defence, which ended with Thenstead playing a low cross for the big midfielder, who lifted over the bar from six yards, with Scott at his mercy.
The home team controlled most of the second half and had a number of threatening long-range strikes, espcially from young left-footed midfielder Jermaine Ricketts.
August Town remained resilient throughout and nearly grabbed an equaliser at the end, but Scott was quick off his line to nullify Fabian Dawkins’ shot from six yards.
Tivoli — Edsel Scott, Kemar Flemming, Kasai Hinds, Rupert Murray, Christopher Jackson, Errol Steven (Irvino English 30th), Jermaine Ricketts, Jerry Walters, Jameel Thompson, Dane Kelly (Owen Powell 87th), Roland Dean (Damion Gordon 79th).
Booked; Jackson 40th
Subs not used: M Blygen, J Taylor, L Gordon, D Gordon.
August Town — Devon Haughton, Ajuran Brown, Dean Paul Grandison, Dwayne Williams, Rohan McDonald, Jermaine Fletcher (Teofore Bennet 47th), Kemar Cockburn (Fabian Dawkins 60th), Marvin Stewart, Daniel Shaw, Akeem Thenstead (Mervin Miller 71st), Aphas Bernard.
Subs not used: N Smith, D Hibbert, J Richards.
Referee: Courtney Campbell
Assistants: Stacy-Ann Greyson, Llyod Reader
Fourth Official: Kevin Thomas
Match Commisary: Martin Lyn