Pennycook strike keeps Tivoli in the hunt
ODEAN PENNYCOOK’S first-half goal was enough to ensure that Tivoli Gardens completed the double against rivals Waterhouse at Drewsland yesterday.
Pennycook rose above the Waterhouse defence 14 minutes into the encounter to nod home from 10 yards though Tivoli coach Jerome Waite was still left breathing a sigh of relief at the final whistle.
“We were battered here today,” he conceded. “It is difficult to come to Waterhouse and do well. We did that today.
“It wasn’t an easy game. Waterhouse came back in the latter part, putting up a stunning fight but in the end our defence really stood out.”
It was a game that the defence won for Tivoli after Pennycook, a central defender, put them ahead. It took resilience and effort from Richard Brown, Barrington Pryce, Pennycook, and Nathan Thomas in central midfield to keep the hosts at bay.
Tivoli started the stronger of the two teams and surged in front when Pennycook was fouled and went up to head home Alton Lewis’ freekick early in the contest.
Moments later, Andre Fletcher had a great chance but dragged his shot wide.
Waterhouse came close in the closing minutes of the half, but Fletcher could not turn home Javane Bryan’s effort from point-blank range.
Early in the second half, Bryan had a great opportunity but headed over.
The Marcel Gayle-coached team got better as the half wore on and kept knocking on the door for the equaliser but found the Tivoli defence ready to handle all they had to throw at them.
They thought they had the tying goal late in added time when Navardo Blair whipped a curling freekick inside the near post that had Diego Haughton all beaten. Fortunately, Brown was there to head off the line.
“We played well,”Gayle sighed. “I thought we deserved a point. But unfortunately, we were woeful in front of goal and we lapsed and gave up a soft goal.
“But from season, we haven’t been consistent. But we will not find any excuses. We will have to fix it.”
Tivoli stayed fourth with 27 points, three behind new league leaders Cavalier, who defeated Harbour View 1-0 courtesy of Jerome McLeary’s 74th-minute effort.