Tivoli Gardens FC deepened the wounds of an ailing Waterhouse FC with a well-earned 1-0 win over the cellar-dwelling team of the Red Stripe Premier League at Drewsland on Sunday.

Miquel Ricketts scored the crippling goal three minutes before the half-time break, once again through a defensive error that has been the plague of the once-powerful and consistent performers of the nation’s top flight.

The Tivoli Gardens victory catapulted them up into second place on the RSPL standings with 29 points, the same as UWI who slipped to third place after going down 0-1 at home to Jamalco.

The defeat left Waterhouse hanging on to 11th place by a mere thread with 11 points as Boys’ Town gathered momentum with a draw to also be on 11 points, but remain at the foot of the standing on goal difference.

Newly appointed coach Glendon “Admiral” Bailey has hone in on the problems afflicting the team.

“First and foremost, there are a number of things with this team that will have to be fixed. These are problems that could not be fixed in one day, one week or even one month. It takes time. But the good thing that I see that I like is that since I have taken over, there is a greater emphasis on team play and a better-growing organisation between players. Granted that we are still making some costly mistakes as the goal came from one of those mistakes, the team seems to be taking up the challenge to eliminate costly errors,” he said.

“I have started work on the backline, and even in the short time I have to work with that area of play, it begins to look much better which means that we are heading in the right direction and it will not be long before we have the situation corrected,” Bailey said.

Despite leaving Drewsland with full points, Tivoli Gardens Head Coach Omar Edwards admitted that his team had to fight every inch of the way to earn the victory.

“It was a spirited display from both teams. The tempo of the game was really high from the opening whistle to the very end. It was a good sign to see two Premier League teams playing at this high tempo throughout the full 95 minutes. It was good to see how well Tivoli Gardens defended, and did so stout-heartedly.

“Hats off to goalkeeper Davin Watkins who made some timely interceptions before and after the goal was scored to keep us in the game. Miquel Ricketts who scored the goal to give us maximum points also played his part in gaining the victory on the road. Overall, it was a good display from both teams”, Edwards concluded.

Teams:

Waterhouse FC – Diego Haughton, Andre McFarlane, Romario Campbell, Nicholi Finlayson, Keno Simpson (Oshane Roberts 85th), Nathaniel Leslie, Dale Reid, Stephorn Brown, Damarley Samuels (Weston Forrest 67th), Kemar Beckford (Bebeto McDonald 87th), Rodave Murray.

Subs not used: Rushane Patterson, Marlon Laing, Kevin Kellyman, DeAndre Brown,

Booked: Brown (25th), Beckford (54th), McFarlane (68th)

Tivoli Gardens FC – Davin Watkins, Shavar Campbell, Barrington Pryce, Romaine Breakenridge, Nicholas Smith, Rohan Reid, Tevin Shaw, Ajuma Johnson (Junior McGregor 90+5), Miquel Ricketts (Marvin Stewart 72nd), Elton Thompson (Kevar Seivwright 90+1), Mitchly Waugh.

Subs not used: Nicholas Clarke, Nickoy Christian, Rushane Facey, Leroy Jones

Booked:

Breakenridge (4th), Reid (60th), Shaw (65th)

Referee: Dwight Royal

Assistant Referees: Lloyd Reader, Melvin Reid

Fourth Official: Malica Reid

Referee Assessor:

Oneal Clayton

Match Commissioner: Andrew Payne

– Hurbun Williams