Late Tivoli Gardens winner extends Sporting’s slump
TOLL GATE, Clarendon — Keithy Simpson returned to haunt Sporting Central Academy with a last-minute winner for Tivoli Gardens in yesterday’s Red Stripe Premier League game at Brancourt.
Simpson, who spent a few seasons with Sporting, benefited from Gerald Eastwood’s sloppy goalkeeping error to tap in an unlikely winner at the back-post.
The hosts were the dominant side throughout the contest, but again paid the price for poor finishing.
Before the goal, Tivoli’s only meaningful chance came from the penalty spot, but midfielder Kemar Flemmings could only find the upright with his spot kick, which resulted from another Eastwood mistake.
The result further compounded Sporting’s dramatic dip in form as they are now on a four-game losing streak, a rut that few would have predicted given their flying start to the season.
Up until last Monday, Nigel Stewart’s side were still in the hunt for a place in the end-of-round final, but are now struggling to keep their place in the top-half of the standing, as the first round comes to an end.