GOALS in either half gave a sliding Boys' Town a 2-1 win over Tivoli Gardens in their Red Stripe Premier League match at the Edward Seaga Sports Complex on Sunday to give them a well-needed lift.

Marvin Stewart struck early, in the 12th minute, to give the Red Brigade, who were winning their first match since the first End-of-Round Final, the lead.

It took Tivoli goalkeeper Edsel Scott, who was about 10 feet out of position, off-guard. The early strike meant the Garden men were being forced to play catch-up for the remainder of the first half.

The home side took a couple of chances in the area, but failed to find the right spot each time. Then, the tall Nicholas McMorris blew a well-placed header past Scott with 57 minutes on the clock.

Dane Kelly made a vigorous attempt to get Tivoli back in the game in the 60th, racing from the half-line and staving off the challenge of several Boys' Town defenders to get next to the post.

But his shot was mis-aimed and went just wide of the left post to the obvious frustration of the orange-clad fans.

Keithy Simpson made a second attempt two minutes later, but his left-footer from 12 yards away went straight into the waiting arms of custodian Kirk Porter.

Substitute Davion Garrison scored the consolation for Tivoli in the 88th.

Coach Andrew Price was relieved: "We've been going through a little bad patch and the guys really doubled up their effort... and really played hard. It's been long in coming. We've weathered a lot of storms, but the team stood out there and fought," he said.

Glendon Bailey, Tivoli's coach, rued the missed chances.

"In the second half we come into our own. With a little more luck and a little more composure, I think we could have come away with a point," he said.

Teams:

Tivoli Gardens — Edsel Scott, Kemar Flemmings, Ranike Anderson, Kasai Hinds, Christopher Jackson, Fabian Campbell (Akeem Thenstead 65th), Raymond Williamson, Shawn McKoy Keithy Simpson (Davion Garrison 76th), Nicholas Scott (Navion Boyd 47th), Dane Kelly, Damion Gordon

Subs not used: B Pryce, F Campbell, J Allen, R Clarke

Booked : Anderson 68th, Flemmings 69th

Boys' Town — Kirk Porter, Xavian Virgo, Carlos Wright, Nicholas McMorris, Hugh Evans, Daemion Benjamin, Marvin Stewart, Robert Scarlett, Michael Campbell, Fabian Francis (Anthony Bennett( 63rd), Rafiek Thomas, Kemar Watson, Marvin Morgan (Joel Williams 71st).

Subs not used: R Clarke, A Samuels, K Binns, R Dennis, R James

Booked: Francis 24th

Referee: Wilverglen Lamey

Assistants: Garnet Page, Nicholas Anderson

Fourth Official: Tyrone Robinson

Match Commissary: Richard Nathan