Tivoli Gardens FC coach Alvin Shaw was in buoyant mood after his team remained in semi-final contention with a nervy 1-0 victory over 10-man hosts Cavalier SC in the Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) football competition at Stadium East on Thursday.

Jamaica College schoolboy Junior Flemmings got the winning goal in the 63rd minute after his scuffed shot from the edge of the 18-yard box beat the outstretched hands of Cavalier goalkeeper Devon Haughton.

Minutes later, Tivoli’s Lennox Creary saw his penalty kick saved by the Cavalier custodian after a handled ball infraction was spotted inside the 18-yard box.

Cavalier’s playmaker Chevone Marsh was handed a straight red card in the 12th minute for serious foul play while challenging an opponent for the ball.

The win put Tivoli Gardens into fifth place on 44 points, only two behind Humble Lion FC, who occupy the fourth and final semi-final spot. Cavalier, in seventh place on 40 points, still have an outside chance of advancing, despite the defeat.

“It was a very important win for us. We have never lost sight of our goal (despite some recent poor results). I’m proud of the effort that the players put in against Cavalier. We are confident we are going to make it [to the semi-finals],” Shaw told the Jamaica Observer after the hard-fought win.

Rudolph Speid, the coach of Cavalier, lamented missed opportunities and going down to 10 players, but said his team will continue fighting despite dented hopes.

“We got a couple chances but we missed them and even had the goal at our mercy at one point. Our players played hard, but that early red card was a lot to get over. Mathematically, we are still in with a chance so we are going to keep plugging away and see what happens.”

Arnett Gardens FC (60 points) and Waterhouse FC (54 points) have already secured progression to the semis. Title-holders Montego Bay United have 52 points and are on the verge of advancing.

Teams: Cavalier SC — Devon Haughton, Al Nesbeth, Norman Bailey (Girvon Brown 83rd), Liston James, Donovan Edwards, Donovan Alveranga (Alex Marshall 84th), Davion Alves, Dwayne Smith, Jeffrey Grant, Claudius Blackburn (Akino Saddler 68th), Chevone Marsh

Subs not used: Jeffrey Henry, Raheem Ellis, Everdean Scarlett, Paul Doyle

Booked: Marsh (ejected 12th), Alveranga (57th), Nesbeth (90th+1)

Tivoli Gardens — Edsel Scott, Barrington Pryce, Ranike Anderson, Robert Williams, Christopher Jackson, Fitzroy Campbell, Rodico Wellington, Keammar Daley, Junior McGregor (Kemar Flemmings 53rd), Junior Flemmings, Lennox Creary (Jamoy Sibblies 79th)

Subs not used: Deron Duncan, Kasai Hinds, Shawn McKoy, Shavar Campbell, Mark Williams

Booked: Pryce (5th), F Campbell (88th)

Referee: Dwight Royal

Assistant Referees: Lloyd Reader, Lloyd Edwards

Fourth Official: Doyen Tummings

Match Commissary: Anthony Cooke

— Sanjay Myers