By Nodley Wright, Staff Reporter
Village's Marlon Dixon beats Bull Bay's Jermaine Johnson to the ball during their Premier League game at Compound yesterday. The game ended 1-1. - Norman Grindley /Staff Photographer
PRIDE WAS the only thing Tivoli Gardens were playing for yesterday in their final game of the Wray & Nephew National Premier League season and at the end of 90 minutes it was still intact.
They came from 0-1 down at half-time to defeat semi-finalists Harbour View 2-1. Milton Griffiths opened the scoring for Harbour View in the 27th minute while Steve Green and Christopher Nicholas scored for Tivoli Gardens.
"We wanted very badly to end the season this way," said a visibly pleased Tivoli Gardens coach Mark Mendel at the end of the game.
"Unfortunately we conceded a goal in the first half but we showed character and fought back. We made changes for the second half and they worked for us," he continued.
Harbour View's Donovan Hayles, who had previously praised his players for remaining motivated despite already qualifying for the semi-finals, was singing a different tune.
"I am disappointed with the play of my team," Hayles said. "They are professionals... quality players and they must always exhibit their best. That is the approach we must take."
After a first half which was close to being forgettable but for the goal by Griffiths, both teams lifted their level of play in the second half. The home team were the ones which looked better in this stanza as they benefited from the introduction of Andrew Chisholm and Christopher Nicholas who stepped in for David King and Nigerian Ifeanyichukwu respectively.
Fourteen minutes after entering the field Nicholas broke free down the right flank and crossed for Roland Dean who missed a lovely chance. The second chance that Nicholas created would be converted though as Green sacrificed himself for the team.
In sweeping his chance, the hulking goalkeeper Leeroy Gray took out Green who was unable to continue. Gray was lucky to escape without a card.
Harbour View almost went ahead in the 70th minute when substitute Ali Rose crossed for Robert Scarlett whose header was palmed away by a desperate Edsel Scott in goal for Tivoli Gardens.
Nicholas found the winner for his team when a ball broke from Chisholm and sat kindly for him. Showing composure the silky-skilled player rolled the ball past Gray to give his team victory.
In other games yesterday, defending champions and semi-finalists Arnett Gardens were beaten 2-1 by Rivoli at the Spanish Town Prison Oval, Village United, who have also qualified, ended 1-1 with the relegated Bull Bay. Constant Spring stopped Waterhouse 3-1.
