By Nodley Wright, Staff Reporter
Bull Bay midfielder Milton Griffiths (centre) is surrounded by Rivoli's Mobi Oparaku (left) and Patrick Beech during yesterday's first-leg final of the National A League at the Spanish Town Prison Oval. Rivoli won 3-0. - Dennis Coke /Staff Photographer
A COMMON CLICHE in football is 'goals win matches'. This was shown to be true yesterday as Rivoli United took their chances yesterday and beat Bull Bay 3-0 in the first leg of the A League final at the Spanish Town Prison Oval.
Captain Patrick Beech (29th), Damion Harris (74th) and Marvin Henry (90th) were the scorers who have their team sitting pretty for the next leg.
Rivoli coach Harold Thomas was pleased with his team's performance.
"Today it was a different attitude form Sunday," Thomas said reflecting on his team's 2-1 loss in the final of the Jamaica National Federation Cup Knockout football competition.
"The players realised that they had a job to do and went out and did it. On Sunday part of the season was already completed so they took it differently," he said.
Barrington Gaynor, who himself took the field in the 66th minute, was disappointed with his team's display defensively and offensively.
"We gave up at least two easy opportunities and did not take ours," Gaynor said.
"We need to improve on this. We are a team which creates a lot of opportunities," he said.
Visiting Bull Bay marginally had the better of play in a competitive and attractive-looking first half but failed to make it count. Chrsitopher Wright and captain Andrew Williams had chances to score in the first half but could not find the back of the net.
Williams had the best opportunity in time added on but failed to shoot one-time and had his effort blocked. Beech showed him how it should be done in the 29th minute firing home a rebound which broke nicely for him.
In the second half the balance shifted to Rivoli who turned on the style. Beech, Nigerian Mobi Oparaku, Shawn Simpson, Wade Nelson and Damion Harris moved the ball around with authority.
While Rivoli were dictating the play, Bull Bay still had their chances as Rainford, Wright and defender Ricardo McKenzie missed chances. With Gaynor entering the field, Bull Bay looked more composed and purposeful.
However, Bull Bay's brightness would not last as sloppiness in the midfield created an opportunity for Harris who took his chance well.
Chances still came Bull Bay's way with Griffiths failing to fire straight in the 80th minute from a Demetrio Bilet cross. Three minutes later a well-worked freekick from Griffiths which was headed across the goal by Williams found Gaynor. His powerful drive from inside the six-yard box was blocked by defender Mark Wisdom with his body.
Persistence paid off for Henry in the 90th minute. He ran on to a loose ball, outhustled defender McKenzie, had one shot blocked by the defender then recovered and rounded goalkeeper Noel Richards to score.
Meanwhile, Waterhouse defeated Duhaney Park 1-0 in the sole National Premier League match played at Constant Spring yesterday.
