By Raymond Graham, Freelance WriterIT WAS a great relief for players and supporters of Rivoli at the Prison Oval in Spanish Town yesterday when substitute referee Lloyd Harrison blew his whistle to signal the end of the contest between the home team and Harbour View as Rivoli finally broke their jinx against the eastern Kingston team when it beat them 2-1 in their J. Wray and Nephew football encounter.
Rivoli, one of the newest teams in the competition, had beaten all the other top teams in their short stint in the competition except Harbour View. At the end of the contest one would have thought that it was the final of the event based on the reaction of the players and the spectators.
Like they did in their previous encounter at the Oval, it was the home team which took the lead early as Derrick Planter struck in the seventh minute from inside the 18 yard box, deflected off one of his opponents, giving goalkeeper Leroy Gray no chance.
Despite taking the early lead, Rivoli failed to put pressure on their rivals as Harbour View dominated the game through skipper Jermaine Hue, Christopher Harvey, Craig Stewart and Lovell Palmer and it was no surprise when the visitors drew level in the 29th minute.
After playing a ball to Nicholas McCreath, Harvey got back the ball from McCreath and from about 20 yards, he kicked to goal surprising the goalkeeper and defenders as the ball found the back of the net.
Despite Harbour View playing very well, Rivoli showed a lot of fight with skipper Patrick Beech coming into his own amd it was he who broke the deadlock in the 73rd minute when under pressure he kicked from about 30 yards and goalkeeper Gray could only dive over the ball as it flew into the back of the net.
