Mere minutes after entering the field, former Jamaica College striker Donovan Dawkins found the all-important goal to hand Tivoli Gardens FC a 3-2 win over University of the West Indies (UWI) FC in an exciting Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) contest at Edward Seaga Complex yesterday.

The game, which saw UWI ending with 10 players after Kemar Flemmings picked up consecutive yellow cards in the 60th and 63rd minutes, was not without some controversy, as both teams jostled to separate themselves from each other in the top half of the standings.

Dawkins anchored the ship for the Omar Edwards-coached team in the 83rd minute after Colorado Murray (45+2) and Tevin Shaw (58th) had earlier put Tivoli Gardens on course for the three points.

Dawyne Smith (16th) and substitute Andrae Bernal (71st) got the goals for the Marcel Gayle-coached university team.

It is the first ever victory for Tivoli over UWI in the RSPL.

The win pushed third-placed Tivoli Gardens up to 29 points, five points clear of fourth-placed UWI FC, who came into the contest two points behind the West Kingston-based side. Meanwhile, Portmore United moved back to the top of the standings with 34 points and a superior goal difference following a 4-0 beating of the cellar dwellers Boys’ Town (seven points) at Barbican Complex.

Reigning champions Arnett Gardens (34 points) faltered to a 1-1 stalemate with 11th-placed Sandals South Coast (11 points) at Crocs Lawn in Westmoreland.

Elsewhere, Humble Lion climbed to seventh position on 18 points after edging fifth-placed Cavalier SC (21 points) 1-0 at Stadium East field.

At Edward Seaga Complex, both teams gave as much as they got in the early exchanges, but it was the visiting UWI FC who grabbed the ascendancy courtesy of Smith who fired home from an angle.

However, it took a little while for referee Cardella Samuels to confirm the goal with the Tivoli Gardens players arguing that the ball went through the side netting.

After calming their nerves, Tivoli went on the hunt for the equaliser and they found it two minutes in time added when Murray pounced on a rebound and expertly headed home to make it 1-1 at the break.

The hosts maintained the momentum on resumption and surged ahead 13 minutes in courtesy of Shaw who leapt above defenders to head home a weighted corner from Marvin Stewart.

Things turned worse for UWI when they lost Flemmings to a second bookable offence, but the numerical differece was barely noticeable. Bernal, who replaced Smith in the 65th minute, crept behind defenders and slotted home from close range to make it 2-2.

But just when it seemed as if it would end in a stalemate, Dawkins, who entered the contest in the 80th minute, converted a lob pass from Elton Thompson to put Tivoli Gardens 3-2 up.

With UWI tiring, Tivoli were marauding in the latter stages, but failed to add to their tally.

Teams: Tivoli Gardens — Nicholas Clarke, Shavar Campbell, Romaine Brakenridge, Barrington Pryce, Nicholas Smith, Tevin Shaw, Aurthur Walters (Donovan Dawkins 80th), Ajuma Johnson (Howard Morris 78th), Marvin Stewart (Junior McGregor 65th) , Colorado Murray, Elton Thompson

Subs not used: Lloyd Tyme, Sean Coleman, Donovan Dawkins, Romaine Linton, Rushane Facey

Booked: Morris (90+2)

UWI — Amal Knight, Deno Schaffe, Ryan Miller (Davion Garrison 78th) , Dravian Williams (Jamie Robinson 60th), Rochane Smith, Kemar Flemmings, Jerondy Henry, Dawyne Smith(Andrae Bernal 65th), Patrick Brown, Taniel McKenzie

Subs not used: Nicholas King, Daniel Gilzene, Kemoy Atkinson, Anthony Greenland

Booked: Williams (57th), Knight (62nd), Flemmings (60th, 63rd red)

Referee: Cardella Samuels

Assistant referees: Richard Washington, Melvin Reid

Fourth official: Nerisa Goldson

Match Commissary: Anthony Cooke

Yesterday’s results

Sandals South Coast 1, Arnett Gardens 1

Cavalier 0, Humble Lion 1

Boys’ Town 0, Portmore United 4

Tivoli Gardens 3, UWI 2.