In form striker Cory Burke netted his 10th goal of the season to help propel Rivoli United to an easy 2-0 win over Barbican FC in their Red Stripe Premier League game at Barbican Stadium yesterday.

Burke latched onto a though ball and rounded goalkeeper Nicholas Campbell in the 31st minute to take his tally to double digits, which makes him the second top scorer in the league behind Craig Foster of Reno with 13 goals.

Earlier, right back Kevin Graham powerfully headed home a corner kick in the seventh minute as Rivoli took advantage of their early dominance.

It was Rivoli’s seventh win from 16 matches and moved them one place up to fifth on 25 points, while Barbican slipped two places to be bottom on 14 points to start the new year.

In front a relatively small gathering at the home of the most dominant local women’s team over the last seven years, the promoted Barbican outfit now has a fight on their hands to remain in the league.

They were slow out of the blocks and paid the price as the visiting Rivoli United from Spanish Town bossed possession early and never looked back in a dominant display.

But despite taking their ‘foot off the gas’, Rivoli came out easy winners and head coach Calvert Fitzgerald was happy that his charges remain in touch for a possible semi-final berth.

“We started off quite well and pushed back the Barbican team and dominated the first half and then the team relaxed in the second half and basically played the game out,” Fitzgerald told the Jamaica Observer.

“I always talk to them about complacency but it looked like today they felt they couldn’t lose the game and kind of pulled back, but I am happy for the three points,” he added.

And despite replacing Junior Francis as head coach after their 1-2 loss to Waterhouse FC on December 7, Barbican, under new coach Raymond Beckford, have won just once in their last four games.

They came on strong in the second half with Mario McDonald hitting the upright in the 85th minute.

“Rivoli is a strong and physical team and our preparation was a challenge for us over the holidays as we tried to get the players together and that contributed to it (slow start),” Beckford revealed to the Observer.

“We just have to go out there and keep working hard and hopefully we can climb out gradually,” he added.

Meanwhile champions Montego Bay United extended their lead atop the league to three points with a 1-0 win over Sporting Central Academy at the Juici Park.

Omar Gordon netted the winner in the 87th minute as Montego Bay United moved to 32 points, three ahead of Arnett Gardens, who will oppose Waterhouse FC tonight. Sporting Central Academy slipped a spot to eighth on 20 points.

At St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS), leading goalscorer Craig Foster notched a brace in the 42nd and 90th+4 minutes, but his Reno team crashed 2-4 to Tivoli Gardens.

Foster has now scored 13 goals to be three clear in the race for the Golden Boot award, but he could not prevent Reno from falling into the relegation zone in 11th spot on 15 points.

Jamoy Sibbles netted twice for Tivoli Gardens in the 60th and 73rd minutes with Andre McFarlane and Elton Thompson completing the victory in the 83rd and 89th minutes, respectively. Tivoli Gardens are now up one spot to seventh with 21 points.

Teams: Barbican FC — Nicholas Campbell, Andrew McLeod, Jodaine Redwood, Shawn Lawes, Kemar Thomas, Shennar Parkinson, Steve Green (Lennox Russell 68th), Akino Bailey, Shaquille Lewis (Mario McDonald, 80th), Keno Simpson, Dadrian Dixon.

Subs not used: Ashek Taylor, Stephen Smith, Jermaine Parris, Dean Philips. Jamhoy Green

Booked: Lewis (64th)

Rivoli United — Damian Campbell, Kevin Graham, Troy Moulton, Jermaine Henry, Keith Wright, Kemar Bennett, Jermey Nelson, Ross Burton (Kenny Lee 82nd), Cory Burke, Kemar Beckford, Jermaine Whyte (Anthony Greenland 46th)

Subs not used: Shannon Bartley, Maurice Bennett, Zavian Williams, Valentine Gardener, Michael Evans

Booked: none

Referee: Kevin Morrison,

Assistant Referees: Garnett Page, Lloyd Edwards

Fourth Official: Tyrone Robinson

Match Commissary: Garfield McDonald.