Morgan’s brace lifts Tivoli to 2-1 win
SUBSTITUTE HORATIO Morgan scored two second-half goals as Tivoli Gardens recorded their fourth victory in six games in the Jamaica Premier League following a 2-1 victory over Vere United at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex last night.
Tivoli started off on the front foot as Anthony Nelson came close in the fourth minute of play as his powerful right-footed strike went inches wide of the intended target. Two minutes later teammate Justin Dunn was denied his tenth goal of the season as the in-form shot stopper Roje Williams managed to block a thunderous effort. As Tivoli piled on the pressure, Howard Morris missed from point-blank range in the seventh minute as his flicked effort sailed over the bar.
Vere United slowly grew into the game and saw their first effort on target in the 39th minute as Jaheim Harris’ left-footed shot rolled wide of the Tivoli goal.
In the second half, Tivoli managed to turn chances into goals as Morgan pounced on a loose ball and found the back of the net in the 60th minute. Morgan, who was a thorn in the flesh of the Vere United defenders, got his second of the night five minutes with a spectacular scissor kick.
Vere United, however, managed to pull one back in the 78th minute with an own goal by Shaquille Jones. A powerful shot from Javier Brown smashed on to the crossbar before hitting Jones in the back.
Tivoli’s Morgan continued to harass the defenders and came close to registering a hat trick but saw his header drift wide of the goal in the 87th minute. In the dying moments of the game, 88th minute, Tivoli’s goalkeeper Diego Haughton denied Vere United an equaliser as Kemar Beckford’s goalbound shot was brilliantly saved.
Jerome Waite, head coach of Tivoli, said he was pleased with the performance of Morgan and hopes the team continues their fine form.
“First and foremost, congratulations to the Tivoli Gardens team and well tried Vere. Horatio Morgan came on and applied himself physically and tactically. We are still taking it one game at a time, everyone is talking about the Tivoli Gardens team and we’re not the current leaders but it’s a work in progress and we’ll continue to work,” Waite stated.
Jermain Douglas, assistant coach of Vere United, said that despite the positive signs the team needs to have more confidence on the field of play.
“It is a positive but we don’t want to be two goals down to start playing (well). We need to have confidence in each other and have confidence in whatever we’re trying to do on the football field,” Douglas said.