Rivoli strike late at St Georges
Lynch Park, Portland — Rivoli United pipped St Georges SC 1-0 in their Digicel Premier League game on Sunday afternoon at Lynch Park.
The lone goal was scored by Colbert Coke in added time (94th minute).
A heavy drizzle delayed the start of play and a minute’s silence was observed for the passing of former St Georges SC player Patrick McCalla, who a member of the national primer league teams of 1987 to 1989.
St Georges should have taken the lead early when Dwayne Holmes’ free-kick beat the wall but Romeo Parkes and Richardo Watson failed to capitalise, as goalkeeper Leon Goffe swiftly held on to the ball.
At the other end, Rivoli’s Devon Hodges broke down the left flank but was robbed of the ball by Jermaine Taylor, who kept him in check for most of the game.
Georges launched a number of attacks through Andrae Thomas, Delroy James, Romeo Parkes, Girvon Brown and Richardo Watson but found defenders Omar Parker and Christopher Hayles hard to penetrate. Rivoli countered through Hodges, Barrington Planter and valentine Gardener. St. George’s Ushane Dobson made inroads into Rivoli’s defence as the half came to a close but his long range shot found the side netting as the half ended goalless.
The second half saw the Georgians on the attack through Watson, Holmes and substitute Leon Irving but fail to get through the defence. St. George’s had a clear shot at goal when Watson passed to Girvon Brown on the penalty spot and his shot ballooned over the crossbar.
The game was held up for about four minutes when there was a clash of heads with St Georges Richardo Watson and Rivoli United’s Christopher Hayles, who had to be stretchered off and taken to the hospital for medical care with a gush over his eye.
Rivoli United, through substitute Devon Powell, Hodges and Kirk Ramsay, got by the St Georges SC defence, but an alert Randal Huie was out like a flash to clear the danger.
But as the game appeared destined for a share of the spoils, Coke popped up to snatch the winner.
Winning coach O’Neil Thomas was pleased: “We are happy for the three points, as we are trying to get to the top six. Our team is a tough, hard fighting team and we did it here. We are trying to edge ourselves into the top six, it is enjoyable.”
Assistant coach of St Georges SC Raymond Gordon was disappointed: “It is a tough loss… we played well in patches and we are not finishing. The finishing woe is on us and we lapsed in the end and just gave Hodges the room in the final half and paid for it. We just did not do what was expected.”
TEAMS: St Georges — Randal Huie, Richardo Watson (Nigel Reid 67th), Andrae Thomas, Omar Davis, Dwayne Holmes, Jermaine Taylor, Ushane Dobson (Leon Irving 63rd), Romeo Parkes, Girvon Brown (Danian Reid 69th), Delroy James, Ricardo Taylor.
Subs not used: Ralston Robinson, Waheem Walker, Gary Banton, Shawn Hunter.
Booked: Holmes (45th), Parkes (87th).
Rivoli United: Leon Goffe, Omar Parker, Christopher Hayles (Devon Powell 68th), Martin King (Richardo Knight 60th), Kemar Brown, David Lewis, Barrington Planter, Kirk Ramsay, Devon Hodges, Fabian Gordon, Valentine Gardner (Colbert Coke 78th).
Subs not used: Derrick Planter, Talmar Warren, Luke Soares, Marlon Henry.
Booked: Gordon (19th), Brown (26th).
Referee: Lewin Purser
Assistant Referees: Anthony Garwood, Lloyd Edwards
Fourth Official: Tariq Parchment
Match Commissary: Lincoln Small