Sub Clarke powers Tivoli to victory over Junglists

Substitute Steve Clarke was a thorn in the flesh of his former team Arnett Gardens, as his brace led Tivoli Gardens to a 3-1 victory in the Jamaica Premier League at Stadium East last night.

Tivoli ended the match with 10 players after Howard Morris was ejected in the 61st minute. Arnett Gardens started looking sharper and came close in the 10th minute through Warner Brown, whose right-footed strike went inches wide of the mark. Two minutes later, teammate and former daCosta Cup standout Kaheim Dixon, smashed the upright as the Junglists continued their offensive onslaught.

Tivoli grew slowly into the game and registered their first meaningful effort on goal through leading goalscorer Justin Dunn in the 14th minute, with the outstretched arms of goalkeeper Asher Hutchinson denying him.

The second half started similarly to the first, as Arnett Gardens’ Joel Cunningham’s thunderous left-footed strike had to be tipped over the bar by custodian Diego Haughton before the goal fest started with Arnett taking first crack.

Talisman Fabian Reid after remaining quiet for most of the match, opened the scoring in the 57th minute, calmly slotting home a one-time effort.

However, in the 73rd minute, Tivoli pulled level as Dunn registered his 10th goal of the season, converting from the penalty spot.

It was then Clarke’s show. In the 75th minute, he eluded two Arnett Gardens defenders to take his chance with relative ease. In the 80th minute, Clarke found space inside the box and took full advantage, sending the ball inside Arnett’s net.

Winning coach Jerome Waite was convinced that the victory was because of a minor change to his tactics after going down to 10 players.

“We had a three-man attack, so we decided to pull off one player and tell him to rest in the midfield, so we still ensured that we overload our midfield, and also ensured that our counterattacks came from the side that we had the advantage,” Waite explained.

Xavier Gilbert, Arnett’s coach, blamed the loss on poor decision-making throughout the affair.

“We made some poor decisions around the back, but credit must be given to Tivoli. We were a goal up, a man up; we didn’t make good decisions and compose ourselves. It’s unfortunate as we got good opportunities and could have scored more goals,” Gilbert stated.

In the day’s other match at the same venue, Harbour View defeated Humble Lion 4-2.

orane.buchanan@gleanerjm.com