Drama unfolded as  players of Tivoli Gardens FC and Cavalier SC clashed during their Red Stripe Premier League encounter at Edward Seaga Sports Complex yesterday.

With Tivoli leading 1-0 in the 74th minute, Cavalier went down to 10 players after Liston James was shown a straight red card for violent conduct. James, apparently unhappy with his sending off, swung his hand in the face of Tivoli’s Rodico Wellington and then shoved Keammar Daley to the ground.

And all hell broke loose.

Tivoli’s players retaliated, which caused an interruption to the flow of the game as both sets of players clashed.

During the melee, Oshane Jenkins of Cavalier, who was sitting on the bench, was hit by a rock and had to seek medical attention.

The bruising encounter, which yielded six yellow cards and one red card, would eventually end in a 1-1 stalemate.

The pace of the game was set very early as the hosts went on the attack from the first whistle. A free kick from just outside the 18-yard area gave them the start they were hoping for as interim captain  Christopher Jackson sent them in front with a tame kick that went through an unstable wall and to the right of Cavalier goalkeeper Jerald Eastwood.

They maintained the momentum from there on and dictated terms over an unsettled Cavalier outfit. Tivoli were presented with numerous opportunities to extend their lead, but failed to finish as they went to the break 1-0 up.

With the appetite of the crowd whetted, many were anticipating a blow out in favour of the home team, but the game would take a disastrous twist. It lost its flair after the resumption with players  from both teams seemingly more interested in hurting each other and the fist fight was the end result.

The game was allowed to go on after the tension was eased and Cavalier then stole the ascendancy. They would find the equaliser when Donovan McCurdy struck in time added on to salvage a point for Cavalier. McCurdy got in behind defenders and held his composure to slot home from close range.

Tivoli have now inched up to 25 points and remained in sixth position, while Cavalier stayed in eighth on 23 points.