Jamaica Gleaner
Published: Tuesday | September 22, 2009
Home : Sport
Tivoli on target
Anthony Minott, Gleaner Writer

Defending champions Tivoli Gardens are showing good early season form and coach Lenworth Hyde Sr believes that the depth of his team has a lot to do with it.

On Sunday, Tivoli rallied from behind to nip Arnett Gardens 2-1 in an exciting Digicel Premier League fixture at Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex, showing their mettle in a pressure-packed game.

The win moves Tivoli to maximum 12 points, while Arnett remain pointless following their fourth consecutive defeat.

"I am impressed with the depth of the team. I have told the players that we have prepared 25 people. Everybody have to be ready (for action) and everybody have to do the same type of preparation that when your name is called you can come and contribute and I think the players are in good nick, they are working hard and they understand the system we play," coach Hyde explained.

He also said: "I thought that we showed some determination and character, coming from a goal down at Arnett is good for us.

"I think in the second half we played some good football, we attacked well, hence we got the goals."

He added that the most disappointing aspect of the game is that his team did not play well for 90 minutes.

"The most enjoyable part of the game is coming one goal down to win the game," Coach Hyde explained.

In a game dubbed 'The Garden Party', Arnett hit the front through their top marksman, Leon Strickland, a minute after the half-time interval.

Tivoli equalised five minutes later through Victor Thompson and Tivoli's dangerous dead ball kicker, Navion Boyd, scored the winner in the 81st minute with what appears to be the goal of this year's premier League.

Free kick

Boyd fired a free kick from 22 yards and the ball crashed off the left post and careened into the net, leaving Tivoli's supporters cheering and the Junglists shocked.

Arnett's player/coach, Fabian Davis, said they need to continue working.

"It was a pretty good game tonight, both teams came out playing good football. Arnett Gardens started off well, we have working on everything we need to work on, the team played well, we can't take anything from them.

"Tivoli were a bit lucky to score that free kick. If we don't score goals we aren't going to win matches. We got two or three chances that we missed."

The pressure is now on Davis to produce as spectators are starting to lose patience. They shouted negative comments such as "leave Arnett Fabian, like how Jerome did last year," said a frustrated fan.

Davis, however, remains steadfast: "We just have to keep on working. I have to keep the players together, I just have to keep motivating my players."

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