FROME, Westmoreland — High-flying Savannah SC were brought back to earth after suffering their first Red Stripe Premier League loss, going down 1-0 to former champions Tivoli Gardens at the Frome Sports Club yesterday.

Dane Kelly’s late header secured full points for Tivoli Gardens after the home team missed a penalty midway the second half.

This was Tivoli’s second consecutive win in western Jamaica after beating Montego Bay United two weeks ago.

The game was played on a wet and heavy field that made playing the ball on the ground difficult. Heavy rains the day before and just before kick off left inches of water on the field.

Tivoli Gardens coach Glendon ‘Admiral’ Bailey was happy for the three points and said after the game he knew it “wasn’t going to be easy” playing away to Savannah.

Tivoli Gardens coach Glendon ‘Admiral’ Bailey was happy for the three points and said after the game he knew it “wasn’t going to be easy” playing away to Savannah.

His players, he said, badly wanted the win pointing to a confrontation between substitute Christopher Jackson and Keithy Simpson after the final whistle, describing it as “passion shown by the players who wanted to establish themselves”.

Bailey said they expected Savannah to start by attacking them and said the plan was to “soak up as much pressure early”.

A subdued Audley Thomas, Savannah’s assistant coach, told the Observer he wasn’t sure why his players failed to at least get a point but agreed with Bailey on at least one thing that “the Tivoli players wanted it more”.

Thomas said he wasn’t sure if it was “nervousness” that affected his players but added “it was just one of those days”.

Savannah had the better of the early chances and Shane Anderson should have scored after just five minutes when Triston Sommerville provided him with an oppurtunity with a cross from the left.

Anderson, however, powered the ball low and hard just past the far left post.

Akeem Thenstead had Tivoli’s best chance of the first half after beating the advancing goalkeeper Gavin Barrett on the edge of the six-yard area in the 26th minute, but his shot was cleared off the line by Shammar Bernard. Anderson missed another chance in the 37th minute when he picked up a ball that got away from Tivoli”s veteran goalkeeper Edsel Scott but fired high.

Savannah got the chance to take the lead in the 66th minute after Shawn McKoy dragged down Triston Sommerville just inside the box, leaving referee Gawain Scott with no option but to award a penalty kick.

Andre Fagan, however, chose to place the ball high hitting the crossbar on the way out.

They would pay for the miss as after three good saves by Barrett, Tivoli finally found the winner when Kelly was left unmarked at the far right post and headed home an uncontested cross in the 87th minute.