Audley Boyd, Assistant Editor - Sport

Tivoli Gardens goalkeeper Leon Gordon (top) grabs the ball over Boys' Town forward Oneil McDonald, while Tivoli Gardens players Victor Thompson (right) and Oraine Simpson (left) look on during the Digicel Premier League match at Collie Smith Drive yesterday. Boys' Town won 2-0. - Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer

NAVION BOYD ghosted his way through Boys' Town's defence to score two goals from close range and propel Tivoli Gardens to a 2-1 Digicel Premier League victory yesterday at Collie Smith Drive, that earned the west Kingston team a place in the first end-of-round final.

The former Wolmer's striker netted at the 51st and 65th minutes to secure a win for his team that moved to a clear second on 21 points, while George Vernal scored for the home team at the 67th.

Both teams started the day tied second on 18 points and looking to join already-qualified Harbour View. The final will be played on Sunday at the National Stadium.

Harbour View, despite losing 2-1 at Portmore yesterday, still head the standings on 23 points, while Portmore's win lifted them past Boys' Town to 19.

Wasted chances

Boys' Town, which could have advanced to the final with a draw based on their superior goal difference, wasted some very clear goalscoring chances as they dominated the first half immensely.

Asrick Samuels and Denzil Watson, wide open inside the six-yards box at either ends of the half, made the most glaring misses.

Tivoli Gardens controlled the first 25 minutes of the first half in as much the same way Boys' Town did in the first - full of running, playing a number of short, grounded passes and moving sharper to win the first balls when they were on the defensive.

Boyd's first goal was the end product of a beautiful left-sided movement that allowed Christopher Jackson acres of space and the great benefit of time to serve a perfect pass at goalmouth for Boyd, who showed up unmarked to turn the ball one time past goalkeeper Kirk Porter.

An awful defensive mix-up between Porter and one of his back line players contributed to the second, as Roland Dean got a boot to the ball between the hesitant duo and toed it into goalmouth, where Boyd sped from nowhere to poke it into the unprotected goal.

Boys' Town made a revival and cut the deficit when Michael Campbell's low shot was turned into the goal by Vernal. They made a surge for an equaliser but were too hasty to whip crosses into the area that were effectively dealt with by Tivoli, as there weren't enough players to challenge.

Additionally, Tivoli players weren't panicky and did enough to keep Boys' Town working in other areas of the field while they pressed goalwards.