JC thrash Tivoli 4-0
Defending champions Jamaica College (JC) produced a solid all-round performance as they brushed aside hosts Tivoli Gardens High School 4-0 in their top-of-the-table clash in Zone B on Saturday.
JC were led to victory courtesy of Tivoli’s Shacquwell Henry’s own goal in the 11th minute. Dyllan John (32nd), Jayd Johnson (65th), and substitute Amarlie King 79th were the other scorers for the Davion Ferguson-coached JC.
Tivoli ended the match with 10 men when Romario Haynes was sent off in the 90th minute after picking up a second yellow card. The victory moved JC from second to first in the zone with 18 points from seven matches. They are followed by Kingston Technical, who have moved up from third place to second, on 18 points from eight games.
Tivoli are now third on 16 points from eight games this season. Spanish Town, on five, Meadowbrook, four, and Cumberland, three, complete the zone.
“It was a very good game from us in a very difficult environment because the boys showed character and they showed guts and they showed fight,” Ferguson said.
“I think that at no point in time we were worried about the result because we knew exactly what we wanted and how we wanted to approach it, so all in all it was a good result for us.
“This is still the first round, because what we try to do is to prepare these boys for the long haul and for the deep runs in the competition, so I think this is just another step in that direction, but we are happy to be at the top of the standings.”
The defeat was Tivoli’s second straight.
Tivoli Assistant Coach Lance daCosta says he is dissatisfied with his team’s effort.
“It was a very tough loss for us because we did not play the way that we trained to play football this season,” he said.
“This is our second straight loss in the last couple of days, so we just have to go back and prepare for our remaining matches in the zone.”
Tivoli got off to a poor start in the match when Henry misguided his header into his own goal to give JC the lead, much to the dismay of his own supporters. However, despite their early setback in the match, the Tivoli’s players held their heads high for most of the first half.
Ryan-Oneil Rhoden thought he had given his team the equaliser 10 minutes in, but his close-range effort from 10 yards sailed wide of the target. John, who had an excellent game for JC, doubled his team’s lead a few minutes later with a well taken left-footed volley past Tivoli goalkeeper Shakur Adair to give his team a 2-0 lead at half-time. Tivoli’s attackers failed to make any inroads into JC’s lead in the second half as they were kept at bay by the JC defenders.
Johnson made it 3-0 for JC 15 minutes into the second half when he dribbled around two defenders before easily slotting home past Adair, who was advancing out of his goal. King then wrapped up the victory for JC with a neat finish from 12-yards.
Saturday’s results
Tivoli 0, Jamaica College 4
Kingston Technical 7, Cumberland 1
St Catherine 2, Norman Manley 0
Calabar 1, Charlie Smith 2
Hydel 6, Penwood 0
Kingston College 5, Camperdown 0
Haile Selassie 1, Denham Town 0
Jonathan Grant 2, Eltham 2
St Jago 3, Ascot 0
Wolmer’s Boys’ 4, Papine 0