CATHERINE HALL, St James – Montego Bay United moved five points clear at the top of the points’ tables in the Red Stripe Premier League after beating Tivoli Gardens 2-0 for the third time this season, in a physical and bruising contest at the Montego Bay Sports Complex on Thursday night.

Owayne Gordon scored his second successive brace as he netted in the 32nd and 80th minutes to take his tally to 13, just one off the lead held by his former teammate Dino Williams.

Montego Bay United improved to 54 points from 27 points from their fourth straight win, five more than defending champions Arnett Gardens who have played two games fewer.

Tivoli Gardens, who had their four-game unbeaten run snapped, remained on 29 points in 10th place, seven points above the relegation zone.

It was a busy night for referee Daneon Parchment as he handed out two red cards, one to each team as well as six yellow cards, five of the bookings coming in the second 45 minutes.

Montego Bay United played the entire second half with 10 players after central defender John Barrett was sent off in time added on in the first half after a rash tackle on Miguel Ricketts that left the Tivoli player with bruises to his upper chest.

Tivoli Gardens’ Romaine Brakenridge also left the game early in the 83rd minute when he picked up his second yellow card after being booked earlier in the 29th minute.

Both coaches – Montego Bay United’s Paul ‘Tegat’ Davis and Tivoli Gardens’ Damion Gordon – agreed was “ugly” in parts.

Davis told the

Jamaica Observer he was pleased with the application of his players and their tactical discipline, especially playing with 10 men the entire second half.

“This was a tactical game on both sides,” he said. “Both of us played similar football, but we had more pace and a little more tactical awareness,” he said.

Davis claimed that playing three games in nine days did not affect his players. “This is football, these guys know how to play and we are playing smart football, you will get these games every so often and we just stood up and fight tonight,” he said.

Gordon, who stood in for technical director Glendon ‘Admiral’ Bailey, said “tactically we were out of shape and not compact in midfield”.

The Tivoli Gardens assistant rued his team’s missed chances which cost them the points. “We had long periods of ball possession, but we were not finishing in the final third and we did not create as many chances today as we normally do.”

Gordon said their aggression might have worked against them. “Offensively, we were going for it and MoBay just caught us on the counter.”

Tivoli Gardens had the better start, but Montego Bay United came back into the game and created a number of good chances before finally breaking through.

A free kick from Gordon in the 14th minute struck goalkeeper Davin Watkins in his chest and bounced out for a corner and wingback Orlando McBayne just failed to get on the end of a lofted pass from Gordon in the 22nd minute.

Allan Ottey powered his way through three defenders in the 25th minute, but Watkins was well placed to block his shot for another corner.

The breakthrough came in the 32nd minute when Gordon outran a defender on the right, and with only Watkins between him and the goal, lobbed the ball past the advancing custodian and into the net.

Tivoli Gardens had a chance to draw level in the 44th minute when an innocuous long ball from near half line almost caught goalkeeper Jacomeno Barrett napping.

The giant goalkeeper showed noble feet as he backpedalled to his line and knocked down the ball just under the crossbar and retrieved it just before any Tivoli player could get to it.

Tempers flared just before the end when John Barrett’s boot ended in Ricketts’ chest and he was sent off. Jacomeno was also cautioned for his remonstrations.

The resulting free kick came back off the inside of the far left upright before the Montego Bay United defence could react but it was cleared out of danger.

At the start of the second half, Montego Bay United brought on defender Kemar Drake for Ronaldo Rodney to bolster the back line and then sat back soaking up the pressure from Tivoli Gardens.

Teams:

Montego Bay United – Owayne Gordon (Donovan Brown Jnr), Ronaldo Rodney (Kemar Drake-46th), John Barrett, Keniel Kirlew, Dwayne Ambusley, Jermaine Woozencroft, Allan Ottey (Johann Weatherly-75th), Lesley St Fleur, Orlando McBayne, Ladale Richie, Jacomeno Barrett.

Subs not used: Romaine Bowers, Winston Wilkinson, Donovan Carey, Jason McLean

Booked: Jacomeno Barrett (45+1), Woozencroft (75th), Ambusley (80th), John Barrett (45+1 ejected)

Tivoli Gardens – Davin Watkins, Shawn McKoy, Barrington Pryce, Romaine Brakenridge, Shavar Campbell, Andre Morgan, Rohan Reid (Rodrico Wellington-65th), Cornelius Simms, Andrew Christie (Javanie Mitchell-77th), Donovan Dawkins, Miguel Ricketts (Andre McFarlane-64th).

Subs not used: Nicholas Clarke, Robert Williams, Leroy Jones, Kemar Seivwright

Booked: Brakenridge (29th), Pryce (79th), Mitchell (86th), Brakenridge (ejected 83rd)

Referee: Daneon Parchment

Assistants: Nicholas Anderson, Ojay Duhaney

Fourth Official: Veralton Nembhard

Match Commissary: Lorraine Scringer