Substitute Jermaine Gray's late double strike gave End-of-Round finalists Tivoli Gardens a 2-0 win over 10-man Reno FC at the Edward Seaga Sport Complex yesterday and placed them - at least for a few hours - atop the Digicel Premeir League (DPL).

Gray, who entered the field in the 73rd minute, gave the hosts the lead five minute later before sealing the win with another in time added to lift the West Kingston side to 27 points - one more than Harbour View, who were scheduled to play St George's in a late match.

George Vernal (left) of Boys' Town collects a pass as Village United's Phillip Hall goes in pursuit during their Digicel Premier League match at Collie Smith Drive yesterday. Boys' Town won, 3-0. (Photo: Bryan Cummings)

After being frustrated by a depleted Reno side which lost captain Nicholy Findlayson after 31 minutes to two bookable offences, Tivoli's coach, Lenworth Hyde, said his substitutes proved to be his trump cards.

"We went forward on a regular basis but Reno sat back and just defended... but the changes we made made an impact... and we got some width and that's why we scored two goals," he said.

Despite having the better of the chances in the first half, it was a lacklustre start from the home team. Captain Christopher Jackson had the two best chances to put his team ahead, but he balsted over the bar from 12 yards in the 31st minute, then scoffed a 'sitter' from six yards
after breaking through in the closing minutes before the interval.

Immediately after the break, Steve Green, Jermaine Allen and Jackson threatened to break the deadlock.

Reno's best opportunity came a few minutes into the second half when a mix-up between Dwight Heron and goalkeeper Edsel Scott almost presented Nyron Davis with a goal.

But the hosts intensified their attacks with a number of substitutions and 12 minutes from the end Navion Boyd dribbled to the goal line and crossed to Gray, who headed past Oshane Lewis in goal.

Five minutes thereafter, Boyd set up Allen at the back post, but the latter volleyed his effort wide.

Gray added his second goal when Jermaine Taylor released him through the middle and he lifted the ball past Lewis in time added.

Reno's coach, Wendell Downswell, said his team did well to keep the home team at bay with 10 men for a long time but allowed a 'soft goal'.

"We got players behind the ball and tried to catch them on the break, and we did that up to the last 10 minutes of the game. We thought in the last five minutes we could have catch them on the break, but they scored that goal," he said.

In another game played yesterday, Waterhouse defeated Rivoli United 3-0 at Drewsland.

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