Tivoli Gardens’ play-off hopes suffered a slight setback when they were held to a 0-0 draw with bottom-placed Barbican in their Red Stripe Premier League match at the Edward Seaga Stadium yesterday.

Tivoli Gardens, who started the day in seventh spot, inched to 29 points but failed to significantly reduce the gap between themselves and the fourth-placed Harbour View, who are holding the final play-off spot.

The point wasn’t such a bad one for Barbican, although they remained at the bottom on 19 points. They are just two points adrift of relegation safety with only one match remaining to complete the second round.

It wasn’t the most aesthetic of games on a windy evening as both teams showed why they are in the bottom half of the table.

The game lacked creativity and imagination, and despite the poor quality of the game, both teams somehow got chances to win it late with Barbican finishing the stronger.

On the stroke of half time, Barbican goalkeeper Shaven Paul spilled a high ball and when the diminutive and speedy Shawn McKoy pounced and looked certain to score, the grounded Paul used his body to block the player from scoring, as both players ended up in a heap.

Referee Kerattan Nembhard called a foul on the play, but to the surprise of the home fans, instead of a penalty, the call was made against the attacking player.

Then just past the hour mark, Barbican’s newly transferred Nicholas Smith of August Town fame, watched as his 30-metre effort beat goalkeeper Davin Watkins all ends up, but crashed on to the crossbar. Tivoli Gardens replied with defender Barrington Pryce shooting over the top from close range from a corner kick.

With time running out Barbican increased the tempo and substitute Jamohy Green got a glorious chance after he beat the offside trap, but kicked straight at the goalkeeper in the 88th minute.

In a swift Barbican counter attacking response, Shaquille Lewis was played through on goal, got the better of the advancing goalkeeper Watkins, but was smothered by the covering McKoy.

Barbican’s head coach Marvin Tate was clearly disappointed with the end result.

“The game started out evenly, we played a very ugly first half. The players were a bit tentative, however, we came back in the second half and totally dominated and outplayed Tivoli and got a few chances and this has been eluding us for the last couple of games.

“We realised where our problem is and we need to solve it,” he added.

Tivoli Gardens’ coach Alvin Shaw said the Barbican team came bubbling with confidence following some positive results of late.

“However, we would have loved to get the three points today, but it didn’t work out. We just have to continue working, we have quite a few more games, so we will have to continue putting in the work,” Shaw said.

Meanwhile, Boys’ Town whipped Rivoli United 3-1 and moved away from the relegation zone into ninth spot on 23 points.

Rafeik Thomas opened the scoring in the 30th minute for his ninth goal of the season before national Under-20 striker Shamar Nicholson doubled the advantage in the 71st minute for his fifth of the campaign. Michael Blygen then put the icing on the cake in the 88th minute.

Troy Moulton netted in the 77th minute for Rivoli United, who were losing their third consecutive match to fall further behind in the hunt for a play-off spot, remaining in fifth place on 29 points.

At Frome, Reno missed a glorious chance to climb out of the relegation zone, battling to a 0-0 draw with Sporting Central Academy, who played with 10 men from the 12th minute when Otis Friend saw red.

Instead, Reno remained in 11th spot on 20 points, while Sporting Central, who halted a five-match losing streak, slipped a spot to 10th on 21 points.

Teams: Tivoli Gardens — Davin Watkins, Robert Williams (Weston Forrest 66th), Fitzroy Campbell, Barrington Pryce, Kemar Flemmings, Rohan Reid, Christopher Jackson, Shawn McKoy, Kaemmar Daley (Andre McFarlene 77th), Nicholas Scott, Jamoy Sibbles (Rodico Wellington 60th)

Subs not used: Edsel Scott, Shavar Campbell, Mark Williams, Ajuma Johnson

Booked: Jackson (69th)

Barbican — Shaven Paul (Nicholas Campbell 60th), Ramone McGregor, Mario McDonald, Akino Bailey (Dean Phillips 75th), Andrew Christie, Keno Simpson, Shaquille Lewis, Nicholas Smith, Okive Blake, Kemar Thomas, Lennox Russell (Jamohy Green 84th)

Subs not used: Dadrian Dixon, Steven Smith, Shennar Parkinson

Booked: Christie (40th), Bailey (69th)

Referee: Kerattan Nembhard

Assistant Referees: Kedlee Powell, Damion Williams

Fourth Official: Leon Brown

Match Commissary: Garfield McDonald