BUFF BAY, Portland — Tivoli Gardens eked out a narrow 1-0 win over hosts St Georges SC on Wednesday at Lynch Park to maintain the lead in the Digicel Premier League, with Devon Hodges on target in the 58th minute.

In another result, Harbour View defeated Reno FC 1-0 at the Harbour View Mini-Stadium.

St George’s failed to get off any shots in the early minutes as Leon Irving, Dever Orgill and Richardo Watson found defenders Murray, Kasai Hinds, Victor Thompson and custodian Edsel Scott hard to penetrate.

Tivoli attacked through Kwame Richardson, Steve Green, Devon Hodges and Jameel Thompson, but at times found Jermaine Taylor — who played a defensive link first defender role — breaking some of the attacks as they moved their attack to the right flank.

Tivoli should have taken the lead on the half-hour mark when Rupert Murray passed to Richardson and his shot — with the defence beaten — found the right upright.

Shortly thereafter, Steve Green should have punished O’Neil Brown, who gave away the ball with only custodian Romaine Bowers in his way, but failed to control.

Tivoli took the lead when Flemmings moved down the right flank and sent a long ball to Hodges, whose low grounder went through a defender before beating Bower.

Tivoli’s assistant coach Alvin Shaw was pleased with his teams’ performance:

“We knew it would have been a very difficult game and the result we achieved is from the preparation that we put in before the game in training,” he said.

Geoffrey Maxwell was typically forthright, stating that “the loss seems to be becoming a habit. We lost concentration and it was disappointing. However, we have some young players that we are trying with.”