Howard Walker, Staff Reporter
Tivoli Gardens' Oraine Simpson (second right) is hounded by Arnett players Jonathan Williams (right) and Jerry Walters (centre), while Kwame Richardson looks on during their Wray and Nephew National Premier League match at the Edward Seaga Stadium, yesterday. The game ended 1-1. - CARLINGTON WILMOT/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
ARCH RIVALS Tivoli Gardens and Arnett Gardens played to an exciting 1-1 draw in their Wray and Nephew National Premier League (NPL) encounter at the Edward Seaga Stadium yesterday.
Cornel Chin-Sue gave the visitors the lead in the 30th minute, tapping in from close range to silence the partisan home fans and raise the hopes of the small set of visiting fans.
Nicholas McCreath responded for the homesters in the 42nd minute to level the scores before the break. He received a deflected ball with his back to goal, turned and placed his shot wide of a diving Julian McLeish in goal.
Tivoli and Arnett Gardens, both former champions, dropped two valuable points in the title race and have a lot of work to do.
Tivoli have moved to 28 points, a whopping 20 points behind leaders Harbour View and the task of catching up is becoming monumental.
Glendon 'Admiral' Bailey, coach of Tivoli Gardens, was left singing the blues of his team's slow start to the season which he blamed on an ineffective pre-season tour of New York.
OVERSEAS TRIP
"I think the overseas trip that we made at the start of season didn't do us any good. It did us more harm than good. Although we go up there with a plan "but I mean, New York City, holiday, shopping, sporting wasn't good," said Bailey.
"The pre-season mess us up badly and it is showing in our game. We didn't prepare ourselves properly this pre-season, plus injuries," he added.
Bailey also blamed poor finishing in yesterday's game for the result.
"You play so well and have nothing to show for it. We need to capitilise on our chances where we could have put this game out of the reach of Arnett Gardens. They got a half chance and they captilised on it. But we played the better ball today," he noted.
Arnett Gardens, with the point, remain in sixth position on 26 points, well behind the leaders and Jerome Waite was the happier of the coaches.
"Playing down by Tivoli Gardens is always difficult. It's rare that we come here and get three points. But the team has done fairly well. Dropping points really create problems but when you come up against certain teams a point is good enough," contended Waite.
GOALSHEET
Tivoli Gardens 1
Nicholas McCreath, 42nd minute.
Arnett Gardens 1
Cornel ChinSue, 30th.
