By Paul A. Reid, Staff ReporterWESTERN BUREAU:
FABIAN DAVIS scored a superb hat-trick last night to help leaders Tivoli Gardens widen the gap at the top of the points tables by beating Seba United 3-1 in their Wray and Nephew National Premier League third round game at Jarrett Park.
Davis scored in the 18th, 79th and 87th minutes as Tivoli improved their point's tally to 60, ten more than joint second placed teams, defending champions Portmore United and Harbour View.
Jermaine Anderson scored in the 89th minute for Seba United in a game that was well contested for about 60 minutes, but deteriorated badly towards the end.
During the last half-hour, referee Raymond Pyne issued five cards including a straight red to the Seba's captain Iton Scott for an ill-advised tackle on Davis.
Scott charged into Davis with his elbow, hitting the national player in the face and was promptly ordered off.
Both goalscorers Davis and Anderson were lucky to be allowed to stay on the field following a nasty bust up in time added on as they were involved in a four-player tussle.
Interestingly, not even a yellow card was shown by Pyne.
Tivoli's coach, Glendon 'Admiral' Bailey was happy with the result, telling reporters after the game that the decision to switch Davis from the right to the left paid handsome dividends.
PROBLEMS FOR DEFENCE
Davis and Lenworth Hyde, Jnr. created lots of problems for the Seba team, combining well on the left side before the latter was taken off early in the second half as Bailey said he was not taking on his defensive duties.
Bailey told The Gleaner that Seba's switching Norman Foster from the central defence to the midfield at half time had brought them under pressure, but Hyde was not keeping him in check.
After being outplayed by Tivoli in the last two meetings between the teams, Seba came out looking at least their equal in the game but Davis' brilliant opening goal rocked them back on the heels. Davis hit a one-time shot from some 30 yards out that flew past goalkeeper Alrick Henry and lodged into the back of the net before the custodian could react.
Scott's red card near the hour weakened the Seba defence and four minutes later, Davis latched unto a cross from the left and guided it past Henry to score his team's second goal.
He completed his hat-trick three minutes from the end when he was set up by Roland Dean, and sent a low, hard shot past the hands of Henry.
Anderson pulled one back for the home team when he managed to glance a cross from Foster past Crumbie with time running out.
