Adrian Frater, Staff Reporter
WESTERN BUREAU:
WADADAH FC created the biggest upset of the 2005-2006 Wray and Nephew National Premier League season yesterday when two goals from Jermaine Anderson and one from Daniel Rickettes gave them an emphatic 3-1 win over Tivoli Gardens at Jarrett Park in Montego Bay.
"We took some drastic measures into our training for this game as we were not satisfied with the way we played the two first two games which we lost," said Wadadah's coach Anthony 'Follies' Williams. "We are basically still experimenting at this time so getting three points here today is a most satisfying result for us."
Wadadah, which started the game briskly and missed a glorious chance inside the first minute when Anderson missed a diving header from close range, took the lead in the seventh minute. On a dribble down the right flank, Rickettes flicked a neat pass to Anderson, who calmly slotted in to make the score 1-0.
FREE KICK
With Tivoli bouncing back and looking purposeful in attack, they drew level in the 14th minute. A superb 25-yards free kick by Denroy Gordon sailed through the Wadadah defensive wall, leaving goalkeeper Gavine Barrett stranded and making the score 1-1.
Before the cheers of the Tivoli fans could die down, Wadadah reclaimed the lead in the 16th minute with a brilliant strike. The fleet-footed Rickettes outpaced the Tivoli defence and with goalkeeper Leon Gordon advancing, he nonchalantly buried his right-footed grounder near the far right-hand corner of the goal, making the half-time score 2-1.
In the second half, Tivoli came out in full attack, gunning for the equalizer. However, the resolute Wadadah defenders kept them at bay with a series of sharp tackles, especially against the wily Kemar Mills, who was showing the most urgency going forward.
Midway the half Wadadah bounced back strongly and missed two glorious chances through Anderson. Firstly he missed the ball completely from six yards with goalkeeper Gordon at his mercy and on the second occasion, he clipped the ball wide of the empty goal.
With time ticking away and Tivoli all out in attack, Wadadah struck with a dazzling counter-attack in the 88th minute. Rickettes picked up a loose ball inside his own half and outpaced several defenders before dropping a perfect pass into the path of Anderson. He calmly rolled the ball into the goal, making the final score 3-1.
"We played with a makeshift defence and makeshift midfield and it did not work out for us," said Tivoli's coach Glendon 'Admiral' Bailey. "We are not playing as well as we should and I can promise you that there will be a lot of house-cleaning in the upcoming weeks."
SCOREBOARD
WADADAH FC 3 - Jermaine Anderson 7th, 88th, Daniel Rickettes 16th
TIVOLI GARDENS 1 - Denroy Gordon 14th
