GREATER Portmore High’s outside chance of making it to the semi-finals went up in flames after they well held 1-1 by eight-woman Tivoli Gardens High in their Zone A encounter in the 2022 ISSA/TIP Friendly Society Girls’ football competition on Wednesday.

Moisha Beccher opened the scoring for hosts Greater Portmore in the 48th minute of play while Colicia Francis got the equaliser for Tivoli Gardens in minute 52, earning her team their first point of the campaign.

With that scoreline, Greater Portmore remained in third place in Zone A on seven points from five games while Tivoli Gardens are rooted at the bottom of the seven-team table on one point from four games.

Excelsior High lead the standing with maximum 15 points from five matches with an impressive 69 unanswered goals so far. Camperdown High are second on nine points from four games. Yallahs High are fourth on four points from four games while Lennon High are next, also on four points from four games. St Andrew Technical High School (STATHS) are sixth on three points.

Over in Zone B, Garvey Maceo High lead the standing with maximum 15 points from five games. Holmwood Technical are second with nine points from three games, Lacovia are third on six points from five matches, and Frome Technical are fourth on six points from four matches. St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) are fifth on three points from four matches, Manchester High are sixth on one point from three matches, and Kemps Hill High are at the bottom on one point from four matches.

Greater Portmore and Tivoli Gardens looked very tentative at the start of the match as both sides failed to sustain possession for any worthwhile period.

Brief celebration came for the home team in minute 25 but the goal was ruled offside by the referee, spreading disappointment throughout the home team’s camp.

Tivoli Gardens created an opportunity for themselves also when Francis got by three of Greater Pormore’s defenders — but her shot from just outside of the box went wide of the right upright before half-time.

Greater Portmore looked the more settled on the resumption and got the breakthrough when Beccher’s strike found the back of the net.

Francis could have pulled one back for Tivoli Gardens immediately but her strike brushed the left upright on the way out for a goal kick. But the hard work finally paid off for the visitors as Francis was on the end of a long through pass and easily tapped home for Tivoli Gardens.