TIVOLI Gardens FC assistant coach Alvin Shaw saw the 2-0 Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) victory over Savannah SC as a mission accomplished for the West Kingston-based team, which continues its quest to reach the second

end-of-round final.

Shawn McKoy, in the opening minute, and substitute Davion Garrison in the 80th completed simple tap-ins in the Monday Night fixture at the Edward Seaga Sports Complex to push Tivoli to joint second place with eight points from four matches in the second round.

The home team also moved up in the overall standing to seventh on 22 points, while struggling Savannah remain at the base on 11.

Though conceding that the game was not aesthetically pleasing — largely due to the rain-drenched and slippery field — Shaw welcomed the three points as being key to the team's goals.

"Our short-term goal is to make it to the second end-of-round final. I think this win keeps us in line with that. We have to just keep working and accumulate as many points as possible.

"Considering the (wet) conditions, we played really well. It wasn't the most attractive game but getting the three points was good. We got complacent after the early goal, but I think we picked it up after the second half," Shaw said.

The assistant coach, however, lamented Tivoli's poor execution in the opposition 18-yard box.

"I think the strikers have been missing quite a few chances and not only in this game, but in other games we have played. We'll continue to work on finishing in training. The players are very positive in our drills so I think we'll improve with time," he said.

Everton Tomlinson, president of the Westmoreland FA and the man who has taken over the head coach job at Savannah on an interim basis, saw the club condemned to a 10th loss in their last 12 outings.

The first-time entrants have also lost all four second-round matches so far.

Tomlinson emphasised that plenty of work needs to be done, but found a few reasons for optimism.

"I think the players did not start with confidence. As the game progressed, we had a clear chance and unfortunately we didn't get the equaliser.

"In the second half I, think our concentration broke down. We tried to keep Tivoli in front of us and deny them opportunities. We did that in patches but we didn't maintain the composure and we got anxious at times," he said.

The small spattering of spectators had barely settled at the venue, but McKoy slotted into an empty net after 49 seconds when Kemar Flemmings' cross was not cleared from the danger area.

Tivoli proceeded to miss several other opportunities and despite the one-sided nature of the first half, Savannah could have pulled level through Ron Daley minutes before the break.

Daley hit the upright when a fortuitous deflection left him

one-on-one with goalkeeper Edsel Scott. The forward then miscued his shot after being first to the rebound.

Tivoli made the game safe 10 minutes before the end when Garrison scrambled the ball into the goal after goalkeeper Gavine Barrett failed to handle a tame grounded shot from substitute Dane Kelly.