Character the key, says Price
Boys’ Town completed their second victory of the season over Digicel Premier League (DPL) leaders Tivoli Gardens with a 2-0 win at the Edward Seaga Sports Complex on Wednesday.
Renae LLoyd gave the visiting Boys’ Town the lead from the penalty spot in the 40th minute before Dean Thompson sealed the win, slotting home in the 76th minute.
Boys’ Town, with their eighth win from 14 games, moved up to 26 points and remained in third spot, three behind leader Tivoli Gardens on 29 points.
Winning coach, Andrew Price, indicated that these high-profiled matches are the ones they have to win in order to capture the DPL title.
“If we want to try and win the premier league, these are the types of games that we will have to win… and my team showed a lot of character to get these three points,” Price noted.
However, like their game on Sunday against Humble Lion, Boys’ Town barely had anything to show in attack as the host did all of the early running.
Veteran Tivoli Gardens midfielder, Steve Green, first tested goalkeeper Philmore Crumbie with a rasping shot from 20 yards after only four minutes. Green later had an effort cleared off the line after he caught Crumbie wandering out of his area.
Kwame Richardson then forced Crumbie into a diving save with a wicked volley from 35 yards.
The former Arnett Gardens winger should have put Tivoli ahead on the half hour, but his attempt to shoot through a crowd of defenders from six yards took a double deflection before going wide, with Crumbie well out of position.
Richardson also had another glorious chance seven minutes after, but again his shot was blocked by a defender.
Then against the runner of play, Boys’ Town were awarded a penalty when captain Kasai Hinds was called for hand ball inside the box.
Renae Lloyd slotted home the resulting kick from 12 yards to put the visitors ahead five minutes before half time.
Roland Dean came close to an equaliser before the break, but he redirected his effort wide from Christopher Jackson’s free-kick.
After the interval, Tivoli showed their intent and Richardson forced Crumbie to block a vicious effort at his near-post.
Then from the resulting corner, Dean’s header was handled by a defender and referee Valdin Legister pointed to the spot.
But Tivoli failed to capitalised as Dean’s effort was parried wide by goalkeeper Crumbie.
Tivoli struggled to create opening afterwards and their best chance for a goal came in the 70th minute when Green found himself with space inside the area, but he blasted his shot high over from close-range.
Tivoli coach Glendon ‘Admiral’ Bailey, said his team wasted their chances and paid the price.
“When you play a quality team and don’t put away your chances, it always turn around and haunt you at the end and that is what happened to us,” he pointed out.
TEAMS:
Tivoli Gardens — Edsel Scott, Kemar Flemming, Rupert Murray, Kasai Hinds, Christopher Jackson, Shawn McKoy, Raymond Williamson (Jerry Walters 68th), Steve Green (Jermaine Allen 75th), Jameel Thompson, Kwame Richardson, Roland Dean (Owen Powell 59th).
Subs not used: Damion Gordon, Victor Thompson, Michael Blygen, Leon Gordon
Booked: Williamson (15th), Hinds (51st), Jackson (73rd), Green (74th), Flemming (80th), Thompson (91st)
Boys’ Town — Philmore Crumbie, Wayne Ellis, Asrick Samuels (Richard Clarke 83rd), Xavian Virgo, Anthony Bennett (Nathan Wyatt 79th), Michael Campbell, Romondo Johnson, Daemion Benjamin, Renae Lloyd, Fabian Francis (Dean Thompson 72nd), Shane Edwards.
Subs not used: Dwayne Forde, Andre Wheeler, Mario Simpson, Ashtek Taylor
Booked: Campbell (51st), Virgo (87th)
Referee: Valdin Legister
Assistants: Lloyd Reader & Damion Williams
Fourth Official: Karl Tyrell
Match Commissary: Richard Nathan