Tivoli Gardens FC lifted themselves off the foot of the Red Stripe Premier League standing by defeating a reluctant Harbour View FC 1-0, to register their first win of the 2017/2018 season in a late kick-off at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex on Monday night.

The win moves the West Kingston-based side to four points and eighth on table, while Harbour View remained fifth on five points.

Both Harbour View and Tivoli Gardens played their particular brand of football without really troubling either opposing goalkeepers. However, just when it looked as though a draw was the natural outcome, Tivoli Gardens struck two minutes before full time.

Harbour View had committed a foul on the doorstep of the Tivoli Gardens goal area and Junior McGregor, who came on to replace midfielder Sean Coleman as a second-half substitute, stepped forward to bury the resultant free kick that sunk the hearts of the visitors.

Tivoli Gardens Head Coach Omar Edwards explained how his team broke free from the shackles of a a winless period to win their first game of the season after four matches into the season.

“What we did was to nullify their game (as) Harbour View is a team who likes to keep ball and move it around.

“Our preparation included a plan to block Harbour View from going to the far side and keep them on the nearside for the most part of the game. This, my team did for the most part of the game,” he said.

While Harbour View did not play badly, that winning spirit was missing and coach Ricardo “Bibi” Gardner bemoaned the fact.

“We just did not turn up… we did not come out of the blocks today and we made it too easy for Tivoli. We did not come out here and show our true mettle. I thought we played far too slow today and there is where we fell down,” lamented the former Bolton Wanderers star.

Teams:

Tivoli Gardens FC

David Watkins, Shavar Campbell, Barrington Pryce, Romain Breakenridge, Keroy Lumthen, Nicholas Smith, Sean Coleman (Junior McGregor 72nd), Tevin Shaw, Howard Morris, Jermaine Johnson (Colorado Murray 46th), Andre Moulton.

Subs not used: Lloyd Tyme, Arthur Walters, Rushane Facey, Tykvin Garnett, Andrew Whyte

Booked: Pryce (59th), Shaw (88th)

Harbour View FC

Joel Johnson, Nicholas Beckett (Sheldon McKoy 77th), Christopher Harvey, Ryan Wellington, Ajeanie Talbutt, Kareem, Odane Samuels (Rosario Harriott 54th), Kemar Bennett, Peter-Lee Vassell, Cleon Pryce, Daniel Green (Akeem Priestley 68th).

Subs not used: John Wilson, Jelani Nicholson, Andrew Allen, Hugh Evans

Booked: Price (36th), Talbutt (42nd)

Referee: Karl Tyrell

Assistant referees: Keble Williams, Jermaine Yee Sing

Fourth official: Odette Hamilton

— Hurbun Williams