LYNCH PARK, Portland — Hosts St Georges Sports Club, despite playing half their game a man down, fought brilliantly to hold defending champions Tivoli Gardens to a goalless draw in their Digicel Premier League game on Sunday at Lynch Park in Portland.

St Georges lost striker Donovan Davis on the stroke of half-time.

Both teams strung a number of passes together in a tough encounter which saw referee O’Neal Clayton being kept busy, and on the stroke of half-time Davis was sent to the dressing room for hitting Dwight Heron above the eye. Players from the visiting team, Tivoli Gardens, had to restrain their custodian Edsel Scott, who was cautioned.

The second half saw both teams attacking with Tivoli Gardens having the advantage, as the hosts were forced to defend stoutly through Jermaine Taylor, Dwayne Holmes and Gary Banton.

Harwood and Ushane Dobson in different combinations should have sent St Georges ahead, but faulty finishing denied them.

Tivoli Gardens could have taken the lead in the 80th minute when Keammar Daley’s square beat Randal Huie and substitute Michael Spence failed to tap into an open goal.

At the other end, St Georges substitute Richardo Watson was denied when he was held by Victor Thompson, but the resultant free kick was wasted.

Tivoli Gardens’ coach Lenworth Hyde was not pleased. “We are disappointed that we did not win the game. We played well and the Georges team defended well, seeing that they lost two games. We were not patient around the goal and we have to work on that,” he said.

His opposite number Braxton Hyre was pleased with the point. “We did fairly well in the first half, lost a player and in the second half with a player down did well to hold on to a draw. They were patient in defence today.”

Teams

St Georges — Randal Huie, Donovan Davis, Damion Harwood (Richardo Watson 73rd, Andre Thomas 92nd), Dwayne Holmes, Omar Davis, Leon Irving (Waheem Walker 67th), Jermaine Taylor, Ricardo Taylor, Gary Banton, Ushane Dobson, Girvon Brown.

Subs not used: R Robinson, B Huie, D Shaw, R Scott.

Booked: Irving (10th), Davis (ejected 45th), R Taylor (69th).

Tivoli Gardens — Edsel Scott, Dwight Heron, Victor Thompson, Damion Gordon, Christopher Jackson, Keammar Daley, Kevin Blackford (Michael Spence 75th), Steve Green, Horace Sharpe (Jermaine Ricketts 78th), Owen Powell (Dane Kelly 66th), Navion Boyd.

Subs not used: H Nelson, K Flemmings, J Taylor, J Grant

Booked: Scott (45th), Powell (35th), Sharpe (69th), Thompson (80th).

Referee: O’Neal Clayton

Assistant Referees: Ricardo Morgan, Ricardus Wilson

Fourth Official: Shane McMurry

Match Commissary: James Pearson