TG take 2-0 lead in Bell KO tie
NAVION Boyd’s brace gave hosts Tivoli Gardens a 2-0 win over Harbour View in the first-leg of their two-way Claro/KSAFA Jackie Bell Knock-out quarter-final tie at the Edward Seaga Complex yesterday, to become the only team to take an advantage entering next week’s return round.
In the day’s other contest, Cavalier held Waterhouse to a 0-0 draw, while in Tuesday’s late match, Arnett Gardens and August Town also ended scoreless.
In yesterday’s feature, the home team dominated the first half and had very good opportunities through Dane Kelly and Horace Sharpe.
Kelly had a header stopped on the line by a defender after 20 minutes, while Sharpe headed a ‘sitter’ wide on the half-hour mark.
The lanky midfielder then had a well-struck effort from outside of the area saved by Michaud Barrett in the Harbour View goal.
The home team eventually broke the deadlock two minutes before the break when Boyd, who was virtually unnoticed to that point, was allowed to dribbled unchallenge from the half-line and he unleashed a low drive under Barrett for the opener.
Five minutes after the restart, Lovel Palmer got a great chance to even the scores, but he skied his effort after a ball broke kindly for him.
But the home team continued to have the better of the exchanges and 62 minutes into the match Jameel Thompson escaped inside the area from the left and centred for the unrushing Boyd.
Goalkeeper Barrett got low to intercept the pass, but he received a boot in the face from one of his retreating defenders before spilling the ball to hand Boyd a gift from three yards.
Harbour View’s best chance to pull back a goal fell to Andre Steele with 10 minutes remaining, but goalkeeper Edsel Scott, who had little to do all evening, pounced on the midfielder’s close-ranged header.
Winning coach Lenworth Hyde was thankful for the win. “We weren’t winning at home, so it was good to get this victory here,” he said.
Harbour View’s coach Donovan Hayles said his team played a poor game. “We just have to go back and make the necessary correction for the return leg,” he said.
