By Nodley Wright,
Staff Reporter
SECOND-PLACED Tivoli Gardens moved closer to a semi-final spot in the Craven A National Premier League (NPL) football competition with a 1-0 win over Constant Spring at Railway Oval yesterday.
An Andrew Chisholm strike pushed Tivoli's tally to 43 points with three rounds remaining. They are seven points behind runaway leaders Harbour View who have a game in hand. Harbour View have already qualified.
Third-placed Waterhouse also strengthened their position with a come-from-behind 4-1 win over Wadadah at Drewsland. They moved up to 39 points, four ahead of the idle Arnett Gardens who have two games in hand.
Constant Spring remain on 35 points while Reno, with a 2-1 win over Olympic Gardens, kept their semi-final hopes alive. The three points earned stretched their tally to 32.
In the day's other match, Hazard played to a 0-0 draw with Seba United for them to stay four points above the relegation zone. Wadadah and Olympic Gardens, both on 24 points along with Seba United on 22, are the relegation candidates.
Yesterday's game at Railway Oval was not of the highest quality though it was competitive if just for the first half. The visitors never appeared to be intimidated by the fact they were playing on Tivoli's home ground. They gave as much as they got and midfielder Richard Henry stood out for them until he ran out of gas in the second half.
The first real opportunity for a goal went to Greg Gardener of Constant Spring but his effort was well handled by Edsel Scott in the Tivoli goal. Just a minute later, Marlon Latty had a shot on Kirk Williams' goal.
Constant Spring had a setback in the 34th minute when captain Dean Sewell had to be replaced after aggravating a thigh injury. That loss could have been put behind them just five minutes later when the veteran Lincoln Taffe had a chance at goal.
Taffe beat the offside trap when he was released by Fabian Watkins. With just goalkeeper Scott to beat, Taffe kicked the ball into the body of the goalkeeper who had spread himself wide.
Three minutes later, Constant Spring were made to rue that miss. Defender Marlon Edwards foolishly fouled Nashan Allen just outside the box to set up a freekick for Christopher Nicholas.
Nicholas kicked the ground and the ball broke kindly for Chisholm as it rolled past the wall and Chisholm chipped it over Williams head.
