Tivoli inch closer to JPL’s top

by

February 12, 2024

Photo

Tivoli’s captain Odean Pennycooke (left) is in a foot race with Humble Lion’s Roshane Sharpe during their Jamaica Premier League encounter at Effortville Community Centre yesterday. Tivoli won 2-0.

Tivoli Gardens made it a hat-trick of wins in the Jamaica Premier League following a 2-0 away win over Humble Lion at Effortville Community Centre in Clarendon yesterday.

The Jerome Waite-coached Tivoli have now racked up 11 wins in 18 games, garnering 37 points, while condemning the Vassell Reynolds-coached Humble Lion to their third straight loss.

From the get-go, hosts Humble Lion looked to stifle the free-flowing Tivoli offence led by talismanic striker Justin Dunn.

That ploy seemed to work until stoppage time in the first half when Kimarly Smith picked up a loose ball in midfield and threaded a pass through to the onrushing Lennox Russell, who fired past Hasani Barnes in goal to give Tivoli the lead.

The goal enabled Tivoli the freedom to step on the accelerator in the second half, and that constant pressure caught the Humble Lion backline off-guard in the 75th minute, which allowed striker Dunn to notch his 11th goal of the campaign, following a superb lob over Barnes.

The game management from Tivoli shut out Humble Lion's offence, and the game would end 2-0 to the delight of Waite, who continues to pull the right strings.

"The conditions here weren't the best suited for our style of football, and even as Humble Lion compacted their defence, we found a way to get two goals, which was good for my team," said Waite.

Losing coach Reynolds said Humble Lion are taking longer than he would have liked to gel but believes it is just a matter of time.

"We are coming together a bit slower than expected and taking time to find the right combination. Once we can do that quickly, we will be in good stead," Reynolds said.