Newcomers University of the West Indies (UWI) FC scored more than three goals for the first time in their Red Stripe Premier League history in a crushing 5-2 win over former champions Tivoli Gardens FC at the Mona Bowl yesterday.

But the ill-tempered game descended into a nightmare for match officials after a clash involving fans, team officials and players. It caused an approximately 10-minute delay in the game.

The fracas was triggered by the sending off of Tivoli Gardens’ player Christopher Jackson, who was shown a second yellow card by referee Jermain Douglas in minute 80 for allegedly lashing out at someone on the UWI bench.

Tivoli Gardens’ visiting supporters were incensed because they believed the referee did not caution UWI’s players for other perceived infractions.

Almost overshadowed by the ugly scenes was a second-half hat-trick recorded by UWI’s Girvon Brown. He scored his first in the 48th minute, and followed with two further goals inside stoppage time.

Anthony Greenland (35th) and Deno Schaffe (45th) scored for the university team in the first half.

Otis Ffriend (2nd minute) and Ranike Anderson (59th) hit the back of the net for Tivoli.

Andrew Peart, the assistant to UWI head coach Marcel Gayle, was elated for the three points which took his team to 12 points, only two behind Tivoli Gardens. Peart said the effort “showed the team has improved”.

Tivoli coach Christopher Bender said he was “disappointed in how the team played and how the game turned” into a farce late in the second half.

Ffriend gave Tivoli Gardens a second-minute lead, but by the half-time break the hosts were up 2-1.

Greenland scored the leveller for UWI in the 35th minute when he rifled home after a defensive error from Tivoli.

Just 10 minutes later they took the lead when Schaffe glanced a header past goalkeeper Edsel Scott.

By the interval there were signs that the game was slipping away from the match officials, evidenced by the five cautions issued to Tivoli and the two shown to UWI.

Three minutes in the second stanza Brown gave UWI a 3-1 lead, but Tivoli hauled themselves back into the game when Anderson nodded home just shy of the hour mark.

Tivoli fought tooth and nail to get back into the encounter, however, frustration heightened as time ran out.

It culminated in Jackson’s dismissal and though the game was eventually restarted, Tivoli appeared emotionally and physically drained.

Brown took full advantage, striking in the first and fifth minutes of time added.

In another game, Waterhouse gained three vital points with a 2-1 win over Humble Lion at Drewsland. Evan Taylor (21st minute) and Oshane Roberts (54th) got the goals for the victors after Wolry Wolfe had give Humble Lion the lead in the ninth minute.

Teams:

UWI FC — Amal Knight, Dravian Williams, Deno Schaffe, Jamie Robinson, Rochane Smith (Jamie Samuels 90+4), Anthony Greenland (Daniel Gilzene 73rd), Stephen Lowe, Ramoun Reid, Kemar Flemmings, Girvon Brown, Patrick Brown (Akeem Thenstead 79th).

Subs not used: Leighton Donaldson, Raffique Bryan, Deighton Stewart, Mitch Wright

Booked: Lowe (22nd), Flemmings (29th)

Tivoli Gardens — Edsel Scott, Shavar Campbell (Nickoy Christian 63rd), Theo Brown, Ranike Anderson, Christopher Jackson, Rohan Reid (Nicholas Scott 64), Andre Morgan, Otis Ffriend, Jermaine Johnson (Shawn McKoy 72nd), Junior Flemmings, Miguel Ricketts.

Subs not used: Davin Watkins, Rodico Wellington, Romaine Brackenridge, David Stultz

Booked: Anderson (14th), E Scott (18th), Reid (30th), Jackson (38th, ejected-80th), Campbell (44th)

Referee: Jermain Douglas

Assistants: Lloyd Edwards, Oyinco McTaggart

Fourth Official: Cardella Samuels

Match Commissioner: Garfield McDonald