NAVION Boyd notched his 11th goal of the season in the 45th minute for defending champions Tivoli Gardens to clip Village United 1-0 Sunday at the Edward Seaga Complex to overtake Harbour View at the top of the Digicel Premier League standings on goal difference.

The West Kingston-based team moved up to 57, but have netted 47 goals and conceded 19, compared to the East Kingston unit’s 38 goals for with 20 against.

Trailing only Rivoli United’s Devon Hodges (15 goals) and Waterhouse’s Kevin Lamey (12 goals) this season, Boyd crashed home a thunderbolt from outside the box after Dane Kelly tapped forward.

Shortly after the first whistle, Boyd and Keammar Daley combined to lay into the Village United defence.

Having posted 4-0 and 3-0 victories earlier in the season against the Trelawny-based Village United, Tivoli set about to hunt maximum points.

But the Paul Davis-coached Village United battled for every ball, showing aggression in order to halt the progress of Tivoli Gardens, seeking their fifth premier league title.

With word reaching the complex that Rivoli United were beating leaders Harbour View, Boyd came good.

The 23-year-old, confident that he is at his best and scoring two more goals than he did all of last season, kept up his attacking play in the second half before he was swarmed by defenders.

Though business-like in defence, Village, through Dino Williams threatened but never intimidated in attack.

With Village about to make their first substitution replacing Ladale Richie, he picked up his second bookable offence in the 59th minute and referee Raymond Bogle flashed the red in his face.

When a Kelly header hit the Village crossbar two minutes later, Williams was pulled in favour of the speedy Allan Ottey in the 67th minute.

Soon, Tivoli Gardens coach Lenworth Hyde Sr flicked the defensive switch, taking out Daley for Damion Gordon and Boyd for Errol Stevens.

Referee Bogle must have been in good spirits when Stevens saw yellow in the 89th minute for a brutal tackle on Ottey, who looked up at the referee as he laid on the grass, apparently feeling but not showing his pain.

Tivoli held on for the fifth consecutive victory, eighth win at home and 15th overall this season. They follow only Harbour View with 17 wins all told this season.

Teams

TIVOLI GARDENS — Edsel Scott, Kemar Flemmings, Kasai Hinds, Rupert Murray, Christopher Jackson, Jameel Thompson, Jermaine Rickett, Steve Green, Kemmear Daley (Damion Gordon 77th), Dane Kelly (Jermaine Taylor 79th), Navion Boyd (Errol Stevens 83rd).

Subs Not Used: Leon Gordon, Horace Sharpe, Nackwayne Parchment, Michael Spence

Booked: D Gordon (87th), E Stevens (89th)

VILLAGE UNITED — Ryan Cooper, Troy Smith, Orlando McBayne, Cordel Simpson, Ladale Richie, Delroy Ellis, Dino Williams (Allan Ottey 67th), Andre Moore (Everett Mullings 67th), Fitzroy Campbell (Ronque Francis 81st), Jerome Eccleston, Oliver Trail

Subs Not Used: Derrick Henry, Shavar Campbell, Elvis Hart, Lavardo Whyte

Booked: L Richie (22nd, 59th)

Referee: Raymond Bogle

Assistant Referees: Mark Williams, Keble Williams

Fourth Official: Kevin Thomas

Match Commissary: Owen Powell

Medical Personnel: Ambucare