FORMER champions Tivoli Gardens secured their spot in the first End-of-Round Final of the 2010 Digicel Premier League following a 2-1 victory over Reno at the Edward Seaga Sports Complex on Wednesday.

Roland Dean and Devon Hodges hit the target for the victors, while Obrian Woodbine halved the deficit with a late penalty conversion.

The west Kingston-based side will face leaders Waterhouse in the November 7 contest, having increased their tally to 21 points, one behind Waterhouse, who have one more game to complete their fixture, while Tivoli have two games to go.

Boys’ Town lie third on 17 points, followed by defending champions Harbour View a point back and the same as Portmore United.

Reno are sixth on 14 , the same as Benfica, who claimed their second ‘big scalp’ in a week with a 2-1 win over Boys’ Town, followed by Sporting Central on 13, Arnett Gardens on 10, then Humble Lion on nine with a game in hand, followed by Village United, also on nine, and St Georges on four points.

Back at the Seaga Complex, with none of the players willing to display any star qualities, particularly in the first half where neither team troubled the scorers, referee Kevin Thomas grabbed the headlines by going to his pocket on no fewer than 10 occasions, including brandishing the much feared red card three times to the visitors.

Striker Dean broke the deadlock six minutes after the break when he collected a through pass from Keammar Daley just inside the penalty area to the right of centre before placing the ball to the right of goalkeeper Gavin Barrett.

The lead was doubled just after the hour mark when assistant referee Oyinco McTaggart flagged for a handball offence inside the penalty box after Dean tried to beat his marker and Hodges dispatched the spot kick with the minimum of fuss.

Though down by a pair of goal, Reno pushed forward and substitute Tremaine Perry forced Edsel Scott in a fine save moments after entering the field of play.

With 10 minutes to go, assistant referee Lloyd Reader flagged as Tivoli’s Jackson made a challenge inside the penalty box, and after some hesitation, Thomas pointed to the spot and Woodbine converted to reduce the deficit.

Hodges still had time to scoop a ‘sitter’ over the horizontal from inside the six-yard box moments before the final whistle by Thomas, who had starred the last quarter in which he produced six cards, including the three dismissals for violent conduct, serious foul play and a second cautionable offence to Nicholy Finlayson, Andre Patterson and Omar Dallas, respectively.