Paul-Andre Walker, Staff Reporter
PORTMORE UNITED surged five points clear atop the Wray and Nephew National Premier League after a 2-1 win against Tivoli Gardens in a top-of-the-table rescheduled clash at the Edward Seaga Stadium last night.
Coming off a 5-0 win at Arnett Gardens on Sunday and breathing down the necks of Portmore United, Tivoli (54) were shocked by Rafei Wolfe's 27th and 30th minute strikes.
Wolfe opened the scoring with his head in the 27th minute from a Jason Morrison corner, before adding to his tally three minutes later.
Tivoli, who played a brave second half, had to wait until time added on before substitute Kemar Mills brought some respectability to the clash with a composed looking finish.
The game started at a torrid pace with crunching tackles being par for the course and it was inevitable that cards would follow.
Tivoli did their cause no end of harm when Denroy Gordon had himself sent off for serious foul play as early as the 10th minute.
The defending champions tried valiantly for a number of minutes after that but, playing against arguably the best team in the league this season and with a man disadvantage, proved too much.
After Wolfe's first goal, a lapse in defence put Tivoli two goals behind as the striker was quick to react to Marco McDonald's inability to judge a ball that had bounced in front of him.
Wolfe dismissed McDonald with ease before tapping the ball past the approaching Edsel Scott, who could do nothing.
BERATED HIS TEAM
After the game Glendon 'Admiral' Bailey berated his team for giving up early opportunities but praised them for their second-half performance.
"Playing against a quality team with 10 men will always be difficult but I think we played a casual first half and it cost us. In the second half my guys came out spirited and I think we put the fight to Portmore," he said.
Winning coach Paul Young lauded the performances of the young players in his team.
"We have a very competitive squad and we have six or seven junior players that every now and then we call upon and they deliver and Rafei was a perfect example of that," he said.
