Tivoli Gardens………………..1

Powell (60th)

Arnett Gardens………………..1

Wilson (36th)

Abusive language will not be tolerated by referees in this season Digicel Premier League as Kevin King of Arnett Gardens discovered after receiving his marching orders for allegedly calling Valdin Ledgister a “thief”.

King was dismissed in the 40th minute, only four minutes after his team had taken the lead and had gained the upper hand against Tivoli Gardens at the Edward Seaga Complex on Sunday.

Kevin Wilson’s looping header had given the visiting Arnett a 36th minute lead, but King’s dismissal swung the pendulum in Tivoli’s favour.

The towering Owen Powell powered in the equaliser in the 60th minute, but Tivoli failed to capitalise on their one-man advantage for over 50 minutes and had to settle for a disappointing draw.

Arnett coach Fabian Davis was livid with King’s dismissal and vented his anger at the fourth official, Wilverglen Lamey, who brought the referee’s attention to the verbal abuse.

“Come on do better than that,” he yelled from his technical area.

After the game, Davis claimed the red card affected the outcome of the game.

Said Davis: “I think the red card hurt us a lot… we were playing away from home and we give thanks for this point (as) when you are playing with 10 men against 11 it is much more difficult.”

Arnett were playing to heir third draw, and have slipped a spot to seventh on 18 points.

Tivoli never really looked like they had a one-man advantage for over 50 minutes and was more disappointed with the share of the points.

“We are disappointed not to have taken three points at home. We did not put away the chances that we got,” said assistant coach Max Straw.

Tivoli have not won in their last five league games and have slipped from top spot to third on 27 points, but Straw is not perturbed.

“Panic is a harsh word. We are used to this, last year we didn’t lead the competition at all. As a matter of fact, it might be better for us to be right about there and not have a big lead, that’s when we tend to lose discipline,” said Straw.

Teams:

Tivoli Gardens — Edsel Scott, Victor Thompson, Kasai Hinds, Christopher Jackson, Kemar Flemmings, Steve Green (Jermaine Allen 87th), Horace Sharpe (Jermaine Taylor 71st), Jerry Walters, Jameel Thompson (Michael Blygen 81st), Navion Boyd, Owen Powell.

Subs not used: McLeish, Blackwood, Gordon, Parchment

Booked: Jackson (53rd)

Arnett Gardens — Damion Hyatt, Anthowe Dawkins, Nicora Plummer, Rasheede Clarke, Nicholas Dodd, Garfield Gillespie, Cornel ChinSue (Oneil Robinson 68th), Ryan Reid (Lennox Creary 46th), Kevin King, Leon Strickland (Dwayne Plummer 79th), Kevin Wilson.

Subs not used: Murray, Neil, Murphy, Richards

Booked: King (red-carded 40th), Dodd (56th), Wilson (66th), Plummer (74th)

Referee: Valdin Ledgister

Assistants: Garnet Page, Lloyd Reader

Fourth Official: Wilverglen Lamey

Match Commissary: Anthony Cooke

Referees Assessor: Lloyd Harrison

— Howard Walker

Tivoli Gardens veteran Steve Green (right) tries to outrun Ryan Reid of Arnett Gardens during their Digicel Premier league encounter at the Edward seaga Stadium on Sunday.

The game ended 1-1. (Photo: Joseph Wellington)