THE Yuletide season is a time of giving, and Tivoli Gardens were certainly in the mood as goalkeeper Davin Watkins’ error gifted Reno’s Denmark Gillings the easiest of goal for a 1-0 victory in their Red Stripe Premier League match at the Edward Seaga Stadium yesterday.

Watkins spilled a headed back pass by defender Ranike Anderson and Gillings pounced and calmly slotted home in an empty goal in the 22nd minute.

After going 10 matches without a win, Reno have now registered their second consecutive victory and their fifth overall to consolidate fifth spot on 22 points.

Winning coach Michael Graham was thankful for Reno’s first away win of the season, but he was not pleased with the overall performance.

“It’s our first win on the road so we have to give thanks, although I am not satisfied with certain areas of the pitch that I think we could have controlled the game more. We turned over the ball too many times, so it put us under a lot of pressure in the latter part of the game,” Said Graham.

Despite rallying late on and peppering Reno’s goal, Tivoli Gardens suffered their seventh loss of the season from 15 games and slipped a spot to seventh on 18 points.

Head coach Christopher Bender risked starting the injured Junior Flemmings, but had to substitute him at the start of the second half.

However, it was the introduction of the skilful Andre McFarlane in the 78th minute that brought life to Tivoli’s attack as they searched for that elusive equalising goal.

“I thought we didn’t deserve to lose [as] I thought we created enough opportunities to at least draw the game, but such is the game of football — if you don’t score the chance you won’t win,” said Bender.

Meanwhile, leaders Portmore United whipped the University of the West Indies 3-0 and maintained their two-point lead atop the points tables. Jovan East grabbed a double in the 30th and 46th minutes, while Rodian Jennings sealed the win in the 76th minute.

At Drax Hall, Rivoli United clipped Cavalier 1-0, thanks to a Cory Burke strike in the 31st minute. It was Burke’s 10th goal of the season as he joins Dino Williams at the front of the race for the golden boot award.

In other games, Claudious Blackburn scored in the 49th minute and gave Harbour View a 1-0 win over Waterhouse; while Montego Bay United defeated Boys’ Town 1-0, courtesy of a 61st-minute goal by Owayne Gordon, his eighth of the season.

TEAMS:

TIVOLI GARDENS: Davin Watkins, Ranike Anderson, Barrington Pryce, Shawn McKoy, Rohan Reid (Nickoy Christian 58th), Andre Morgan, Weston Forrest, Jermaine Johnson, Junior Flemmings (Narada Brown. 46th), Miguel Ricketts, Rodico Wellington (Andre McFarlane 78th).

Subs not used: Romaine Brackenridge, Robert Williams, Otis Friend, Robert Stephens.

Booked: Barrington Pryce (65th)

RENO: Dennis Clayton, Renario Downswell, Alburn Facey, Kirk Mullings, Denmark Gillings (Kavar Walker 90th), Tyshan Hill, Afiba Chambers (Kayce Bromfield 84th), Shamar Bernard, Jashane Foster, Jason McLean (Omar Johnson, 74th), Miguel Barnaby.

Subs not used: Devaughn Hawthorne, Maliki Reid. Kenardo Cooper, Bershan Bryan, Xavion Anderson, Leonard Rankine.

Booked: None

Referee: Tyrone Robinson

Assistant referees: Garnett Page, Jermaine Teesing

Fourth Official: Gawayne Scott

Match Commissary: Horace Lewis

— Howard Walker