Relegation looms for Wadadah
published:
Monday | April 2, 2007
Tivoli Gardens' Oraine Simpson (left) heads the ball during yesterday's Wray and Nephew National Premier League match against Wadadah at the Edward Seaga Stadium. Tivoli won 4-1. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer
Howard Walker, Staff Reporter
Wadadah look certain to join Naggo Head in the relegated lot after crashing to a 4-1 defeat to Tivoli Gardens in their Wray and Nephew National Premier League (NPL) game yesterday.
Tivoli Gardens, playing in front of a small crowd at a wet Edward Seaga Stadium, got off to a flyer as Damion Gordon headed home a Christopher Jackson corner in the seventh minute.
Richard West made it 2-0 in the 46th minute, ramming home an Oraine Simspon cross before substitute Sheldon Palmer made his mark with a double.
Palmer, who came on in the 66th minute, scored in the 68th minute then slid home his second in the 86th minute.
The tall Rohan Reid beat Tivoli's offside trap to score a consolation goal in the 88th minute.
Wadadah, with their 16th loss of the season from 27 games, remain on 19 points, still 10 points behind third-from-bottom Seba with six rounds to go. Coach Allan Aarons said the early goal knocked the wind out of his team and destroyed their game plan. But he remains optimistic on their chances of surviving the drop.
Said Aarons: "We have a positive approach to it all the way. With six matches left we are just going to fight and do the best we can. As much as the odds are stacked against us we're not giving up."
Meanwhile, home team Tivoli Gardens turned in an impressive display for their 10th win of the season and consolidated fifth position on 41 points.
They are just three points behind the faltering defending champions, Waterhouse, on 44, for fourth place.
Tivoli's manager, Brian Rose, was pleased with his team's performance after exposing a couple of their Under-21 players.
Said Rose: "Seeing that we cannot top the tables again, the effort now is to blood some of the Under-21 players into the programme and build for next season and it looks promising for the future."
Portmore win
In the other games, Portmore United kept up the pressure on Harbour View with a 1-0 win over Arnett Gardens at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex, courtesy of a goal in the last 10 minutes by substitute Oneil 'Chippy' McDonald who capitalised on a poor defensive play by stretching his leg past the central defender to steer the ball past advancing goalie Moschell Nelson into the exposed goal.
Portmore move to a clear second on 51 points with their 14th win of the season.
The struggling Village held Boys' Town 0-0 to be on 31 points in ninth position while Boys' Town advance to 33 points in eighth place.
Tivoli Gardens
4
Damion Gordon 7th, Richard West 46th, Sheldon Palmer 68th, 86th
