Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter

Arnett Gardens' Leon Strickland (left) is tackled from behind by Tivoli Gardens' Kasai Hinds during their Wray and Nephew National Premier League football match at the Edward Seaga Stadium yesterday. Tivoli Gardens won 1-0. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer

Surly tempers and meaty challenges replaced traditional tea and crumpets as Tivoli came away 1-0 victors over Arnett in the 'Garden Party' when Wray and Nephew National Premier League action resumed at the Edward Seaga Stadium yesterday.

The challenges came flying in as the rivals, both intent on making their way up the tables, came together in the blistering heat for the New Year league restart, which ended with Tivoli Gardens Christopher Jackson picking up a 90th-minute red card.

In the end, midfielder Jermaine Taylor netted the all-important goal with his 61st-minute strike not only giving Tivoli all three points, but pushing them three points ahead of their red and black-clad rivals in the standings to 23.

The goal itself was a direct product of industry in midfield by the hard-tackling Denroy Gordon who stepped in to steal possession midway the pitch before dispensing a well-weighted pass to the left flank for Horace Howell. Howell then drifted inside to coolly roll the ball into the path of Taylor, who ran on to blast past Arnett custodian Julian McLeish from just inside the 18-yard area.

Though the game was a tight one, it was the west Kingston team which had the better opportunities.

Tivoli Garden's Jackson threatened to fire the west Kingston team into the lead on two separate occasions but his long-range efforts, though having keeper McLeish beaten, came back into play off the crossbar.

"The most important thing is that we came out here and got all three points today," said Tivoli Gardens coach Calvert Fitzgerald.

"We have been getting the goals all season but we did some work on the defensive end of things and it's beginning to pay off," he added.

In what proved to be a fairly even game, the 'Junglist' had their opportunities to at least come away with a share of the points.

"We came out a little match rusty after the break and I think we were a bit lackadaisical in our approach today," said Arnett Gardens coach Glendon Bailey. "We showed a lot of character though and we will get back our match fitness and get back a bit of our rhythm," he added.

Tivoli 1

Jermaine Taylor (61st minute)

Arnett 0