Cavalier SC defeated hosts Rivoli United 3-1 in yesterday’s hard-fought Red Stripe Premier League match at the Spanish Town Prison Oval.

Claudius Blackburn and Chevone Marsh in the 11th and 19th minutes, respectively, gave Cavalier a 2-0 cushion before Devon Hodges pulled a goal back for Rivoli three minutes into time added in the first half.

Marsh got his double and made the game safe with a strike six minutes before the end of the encounter. With the win, Cavalier leapfrogged Rivoli to move to 25 points, still in the middle of the 12-team, but within touching distance of a top-four position, which would seal a semi-final berth. Rivoli remain two points behind.

Cavalier’s coach David Laylor told the Jamaica Observer it was “one of the better performances from the season started. It was an excellent show from Marsh and he helped so much in defence as well.”

His opposite number at Rivoli, Calvert Fitzgerald was openly distraught with his team’s defending.

“Defensively we played an extremely poor game. We gave up those three goals, that at this level, we are not supposed to give up,” he said as he sat on the team bench in deep reflection after the match.

“Defensively we played an extremely poor game. We gave up those three goals, that at this level, we are not supposed to give up,” he said as he sat on the team bench in deep reflection after the match.

In a generally subdued first half, Cavalier took the lead when Ryan Miller’s powerful volley was parried by Rivoli goalkeeper Shannon Bartley but the rebound was instantly swept in by Blackburn, who was lurking inside the six-yard box.

Marsh doubled the advantage when he collected a pass and was afforded time and space to dribble towards goal before hammering a left-footer past Bartley.

Hodges headed wide shortly after, though he was odds-on favourite to score from eight yards out. Later in the half, Cavalier goalkeeper Jovell Plunkett dived smartly to his right to save Davion Garrison’s low shot. But just when it seemed the visitors would enter the interval with a two-goal advantage, Hodges booted in from close range to restore hope.

The second half, played in cooler evening conditions, provided fast-paced action, but despite the odd chance arriving at either end, no goals came until Marsh wrapped up proceedings.

The former schoolboy standout latched onto a pass from Girvon Brown, after a mix-up in the Cavalier defence, and confidently lashed into the net.

TEAMS:

Rivoli United — Shannon Bartley, Jermaine Henry, Christopher Hayles, Fabian Gordon, Barrington Planter, Mario Harrison, Corey Burke, Davion Garrison (Michael Blygen 79th), Kemar Bennett (Valentine Gardener 46th), Devon Hodges, Jason Vassell (Anthony Greenland 46th).

Subs not used: George Brown, Barrington Price, Dan Reid, Zaikon Williams

Booked: Planter (87th)

Cavalier — Jovell Plunkett, Claudius Blackburn, Deno Schaffe, Girvon Brown (Michaelous Martin 90+2), Dwayne Holmes, Donovan Alveranga (Conroy Johnson 89th), Al Nesbeth, Chevone Marsh, Ryan Miller (Norman Bailey 63rd), Kirk Fletcher, Jermaine Ricketts.

Subs not used: Christopher Louden, Liston James, Kristoff Thomas, Romario Constant

Booked: Alveranga (39th)

Referee: Valdin Legister

Assistants: Kedlee Powell, Richard Washington

Fourth Official: Raymond Bogle

Match Commissary: Anthony Gibbs