HAVING stressed the need for players to show character when the team falls behind, Dunbeholden FC’s Assistant Coach Craig Richards was delighted they responded accordingly, coming from behind to beat Tivoli Gardens 4-1 in the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) match at Jamaica College on Sunday.

After Zackiya Wilks’s own goal gave Tivoli Gardens an eighth-minute lead, Dunbeholden’s response might not have been swift but it was vicious.

Stephen Barnett (45+1), Fabian McCarthy (70th), 18-year-old substitute Malachi Douglas (81st), and another substitute Stephen Williams (90+3) piled misery onto their west Kingston opponents in what turned out to be a lopsided affair.

While Dunbeholden were rebounding from a 0-2 loss to Harbour View to consolidate their hold on sixth position on 25 points, Tivoli Gardens were being condemned to a third-consecutive defeat and eighth of the season. They remain 10th in the 14-team standing on 17 points.

“I am very pleased with the mentality of the players to get the victory, which we are very happy about,” Richards said.

“Yesterday [Saturday], after training, we spoke about how many times after conceding one goal we give up a second one, and we needed to stop that. We conceded early and the team showed character, and I am very pleased for that,” he added during a post-game interview.

The St Catherine-based Dunbeholden took a little time to find their rhythm, and that allowed Tivoli Gardens to dictate terms in the early exchanges.

And soon enough, the west Kingston-based team broke the deadlock courtesy of a weighted corner kick from Rodico Wellington, which was turned in by Wilks.

Falling behind seemingly provided the proverbial shot in the arm Dunbeholden required and they went on to outclass their opponents in all departments, creating a number of chances which they couldn’t capitalise on.

The first came in the 20th when Odane Samuels went on the break but couldn’t sort his foot out in time to get the shot off.

In the 32nd minute Ricardo Thomas served up a delightful cross which was met by Barnett at point-blank range — however the effort was kept out by Nicholas Clarke in goal for Tivoli Gardens.

Dunbeholden inevitably got back on level terms on the stroke of the break, when another long pass into the box was muffed by the advancing Clarke. The custodian’s attempt to punch clear instead placed the ball right in Barnett’s path, and the former Hydel High striker made no mistake on that occasion.

Riding their momentum, Dunbeholden picked up where they left on the resumption.

Clarke had no answer for an effort from McCarthy, which went under his body and into the net.

With Tivoli crumbling, Williams slipped a pass to Clarendon College standout Douglas who fired home his first goal in top flight football.

And Williams then displayed nippy footwork to dismiss his marker before firing past the hapless Clarke to seal the win in time added.

SUNDAY’S RESULTS

Dunbeholden 4, Tivoli Gardens 1

Faulkland 1, Harbour View 5

Humble Lion 0, Montego Bay 0

Waterhouse 2, Vere 1

Arnett Gardens 5, Molynes 1