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Goals win matches, and Tivoli Gardens’ (TG) Stephen Barnett proved that yesterday. His lone strike enabled the west Kingston-based club to secure their first win of the Jamaica Premier League season, following a 1-0 win over Molynes United at the Drax Hall Sports Complex.
For the majority of the encounter, it was a duel between striker Barnett and Molynes goalkeeper Peter Harrison, with Barnett getting off as many as seven shots at goal and the custodian pulling off five remarkable saves to keep the scoreline respectable.
Barnett tormented left-sided Molynes defender Damion Thomas in the first half and could have opened the scoring in the 15th minute when his riffled right-sided shot from inside the area was well saved by Harrison.
Minutes later, Barnett was in on goal again, and this time, Harrison had to rely on some luck to keep out the striker’s effort, which hit the post and came back into the goalkeeper’s hands.
THUNDEROUS SHOT
Harrison’s luck would eventually run out in the 31st minute as Barnett put everything into his thunderous shot, which flew past the Molynes’ custodian into the net.
That lone strike would hold up for the remainder of the game as Molynes could not find an equaliser despite a few half-chances for their main striker, Nicholas Nelson.
Man of the Match Barnett rated his performance 100 per cent despite scoring the lone goal from numerous attempts.
“I am pleased to know that I put away the one chance that really mattered in the end, and it has given us the vital three points, which we so desperately needed,” said Barnett.
FIRST WIN
The win enabled Tivoli to move from the bottom of the table to eight in the standings following their first win in six games.
The win was equally pleasing to Tivoli’s technical director, Glendon ‘Admiral’ Bailey, who gave his team a thumbs up for their resolute effort.
“I thought we dominated the first half and got the all-important goal. In the second half, I knew Molynes were going to come at us, but I was pleased with the way how we defended and kept our shape,” said Bailey.
Losing coach Garnett Lawrence has now seen his team drop to the bottom of the 12-team standings with just one win, one draw, and five losses in their seven matches.
“I have to give credit for the resilience the guys showed in the second half. We missed a few chances, which could have made the outcome of the game different,” said Lawrence.
In the day’s other fixture, Portmore United, with an injury-time strike from Shai Smith, defeated Vere United 2-1. Earlier, Deandre Cunningham opened the scoring for the winners in the 55th minute before Javier Brown equalised for Vere United in the 61st.
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