Tivoli Gardens…………………………………4 Kelly (50th), Thompson (67th), Dean (81st , 84th)

Sporting Central………………………………0

BY OSHANE TOBIAS

Observer writer

CLARENDON PARK, Clarendon — Defending champions Tivoli Gardens surged to the top of the standings on goal difference, after four second-half goals carried them to a big 4-0 thumping of Sporting Central Academy in third-round Digicel Premier League action at Brancourt on Sunday.

Tivoli’s way to the top was made possible by August Town’s 2-1 upset of Harbour View, who led by three points going into Sunday’s round of games. Luckily for Harbour View they have a game in hand against St Georges Sports Club.

Second-half substitute Roland Dean announced his comeback from injury with a double strike three minutes apart (81st and 84th minutes), as Tivoli romped past Sporting with other goals from Dane Kelly (50th) and Jameel Thompson in the 67th.

The champions have now joined the ‘Stars of the East’ on 51 points, but lead with a goal difference of 24.

Lenworth Hyde Snr thought his team had a bad first half, but praised his players for a workmanlike second-half performance.

“I think Sporting had the better of the first half, but one good thing about it we didn’t concede a goal. We talked to them at half-time and they started to put the ball on the ground, hence we got the goals,” Hyde said.

His opposite number Nigel Stewart, as usual, bemoaned his team’s wastefulness in front of goal. “As you see in the first half we got quite a number of goals, but we just didn’t put them away. We will just have to work harder next time in training.”

It was Sporting who had the first three chances at goal early in the first half, as they pushed the visitors on the back-foot with some good attacking play, but the pair of Alanzo Adlam and Levaughn Williams were not good enough to get beyond Tivoli’s goalie Edsel Scott.

The young Clarendon team, which went down to 10 men in the 59th minute when Gregory Lewis saw red for striking an opponent, would, however, pay for these missed chances, as the champions had a mission to complete and would not be daunted.

They came out in the second half and literally rained on Sporting’s parade and duly took the lead in the 50th minute through national invitee Dane Kelly, who rose high to head home a short corner from Navion Boyd.

Sporting, who it seemed had problems moving the ball on their pitch, fell further behind when Jameel Thompson knocked home his own rebound in the 67th minute, after Andre Blake did well to stop the initial shot.

Dean added the knockout punch in the 81st when he glided into the box and unleashed a cannon which hit the underside of the cross-bar before going in.

He capped a good second-half display for Tivoli three minutes later, chipping beautifully past Blake for his sixth goal of the season.

Teams

Sporting Central Academy — Andre Blake, Akeem Annakie, Keithy Simpson, Levaughn Williams (Francois Swaby 73rd), Marlon Allen, Camaal Reid, Kadian Wynter, Jevaughn Watson, Alanzo Adlam (Jamoly Powell 84th), Hughan Grey (Jermaine Christian 66th), Gregory Lewis.

Subs not used: Tristan Huntley, Upston Edwards, Oneke Ford, Andre Allen.

Booked: Gray (30th), Lewis (ejected 59th) Reid (88th).

Tivoli Gardens — Edsel Scott, Kemar Flemmings, Kasai Hinds, Rupert Murray, Christopher Jackson (Irvino English 73rd), Jameel Thompson, Jermaine Rickett, Jerry Walters, Keammar Daley, Dane Kelly (Errol Stevens 80th), Navion Boyd (Roland Dean 64th)

Subs not used: Peter Harrison, Damion Gordon, Owen Powell, Horace Sharpe.

Booked: Stevens (85th), English (82nd), Jackson (64th).

Referee: Valdin Ledgister Assistants: Antonette Williams,

Kedlee Powell

Fourth Official: Cardella Samuels Match Commissary: Ewan Scott