Tivoli look to deepen Boys’ Town’s woes

TIVOLI GARDENS will look to add to Boys’ Town’s misery when the teams meet in the Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) today at the Barbican Complex playing field. Match time is 3 p.m.

The encounter was originally scheduled for October 23 but was postponed due to a waterlogged Barbican surface.

Now the two neighbouring clubs will derby game.

Tivoli are on 14 points from nine games, in sixth position, while Boys’ Town are in last place on four points from nine games.

Despite the disparity in terms of points, the game could bring out the best in both teams, as they know each other well.

There are players that have represented both clubs as well, while Tivoli’s new coach, Omar Edwards, spent a decade as a coach at Boys’ Town.

Edwards says he is expecting a tough encounter this afternoon, but notes that his team will be hunting full points.

DERBY GAME

square off in a

“It will be a tough game, a very physical one. And it must be noted that it is a derby game,” Edwards told The Gleaner yesterday morning.

“We are aware that Boys’ Town are not doing well at this time, and we are in mid-pack, so we will go to Barbican intent on coming away with a win, which would improve our position in the league,” said Edwards, who is also the national Under-17 assistant coach.

Tivoli will be missing their captain, Romaine Breakenridge, and striker Mitchily Waul due to red cards picked up in the encounter against Arnett Gardens last Sunday.

“We will miss two of our starters due to red cards, but we have players who are ready for the opportunity,” he concluded.

Tivoli will rely on veterans Edsel ‘Robbie’ Scott and Jermaine ‘Teddy’ Johnson, as well as former Boys’ Town midfielder Tevin Shaw and Barrington Pryce to lead their charge for victory.

Boys’ Town are having a miserable start, with only one win, one draw and seven losses in nine games. However, their long-serving coach Andrew Price is hoping that the derby will be added motivation for his team.

“I hope that the west Kingston derby will be a big motivation for us. I believe that a game of this magnitude will bring the best out of the players. We are hopeful that things will change as the players are down because of things outside of the football sphere,” Price reasoned.

Boys’ Town will hope that their top striker, Shamar Nicholson, Xavian Virgo, veteran goalkeeper Kirk Porter and Garfield Gillespie report in the right frame of mind.