Keisha Hill, Staff Reporter

Pandemonium reigned in the Coca-Cola Under-21 National Premier League competition on Friday as host Harbour View came from behind and overpowered Tivoli Gardens 2-1 in an aggressively contested match at Harbour View Mini Stadium.

Tivoli Gardens looked an impressive pack within the first minutes of the game as Ricardo Stern gave his team the lead from the six-yard box in the fourth minute. With a strong defensive midfield and an equally fast-paced game from Tivoli, it proved difficult for Harbour View to equalise in the first half.

However, within the first five minutes of the second half, Harbour View had Tivoli eating out of their hands as Nicholas Beckett scored in the 50th minute, levelling the score at 1-1.

Tivoli Gardens sunk into even deeper misery by the 85th and 88th minutes, respectively, as Robert Williams and Otis Friend were given marching orders after a fracas on the field between themselves and referee Winston Delahaye.

Struggle

Down to nine men, Tivoli Gardens struggled to retain their composure against injury-plagued Harbour View, who had lost Anthony Brownie within the last few minutes of the game.

But there was no respite for the already-sunk Tivoli team as substitute Errol Stevens put Harbour View into a 2-1 lead in time added for stoppages.

Harold Thomas, coach of the victorious Harbour View team, said: "I think it was a completely different second half. We were a bit timid in the first half. After the half-time talk, we went in and responded to the changes."

Meanwhile, coach of Tivoli Gardens, Desmond Francis, was disappointed by the way the match was officiated.

"I think the referee did not have a good game so his attitude threw off the players. The referee tried to play the game himself. He would not allow the players to play and that messed up the whole game. Some of the red cards he issued were not justified," he said.

In other games, Arnett Gardens beat Portmore United 2-1; Clarendon's Sporting Central mirrored the same 2-1 victory at August Town; Portland's St. Georges clipped Boys' Town 1-0; Westmoreland's Reno edged St. James' Seba United by a similar 1-0 scoreline; and Trelawny's Village and Waterhouse played to a goalless finish.