Audley Boyd, Assistant Sport Editor

LEADING FROM the front in every conceivable way, Tivoli Gardens' captain, Roland Dean, fired in a hat-trick for his team's 3-1 victory over visitors Rivoli United in their seventh round Digicel Premier League match at Edward Seaga Sports Complex yesterday.

"Pretty good so far," was how Dean described his tallying this season. "It's hard work so far in training and matches. I've been doing that a lot this season and it's paying off," he said.

Dean scored for the west Kingston team in the 25th, 48th and 85th minutes, while Devon Hodges converted a penalty for Rivoli in time added for stoppages, actually the second of the plus-three minutes.

"I must lift my hat to Roland Dean," Tivoli's coach, Lenworth Hyde Sr, said. "Roland Dean is working very hard and it's showing in the matches."

Victory lifted Tivoli Gardens, runners-up in the league last season, to 12 points. Rivoli, who were promoted after being relegated for two seasons, extended their wretched start by losing for the fifth time. On four points, they remain two off bottom placed first-timers, Meadhaven.

Consecutive victory

Tivoli, in the meantime, recorded their second consecutive victory, with Dean again instrumental. Before yesterday's hat-trick, he had scored a goal apiece in three matches and he has now accounted for six of Tivoli's seven conversions.

His movement and pace, not to mention his finishing, made him virtually uncontrollable and, along with the suffocating defending by midfielders Christopher Jackson, Jerry Walters and Steve Green, the Lenworth Hyde Sr.-coached Tivoli stamped its authority by ensuring a fast-paced game.

Slow-playing Rivoli, with a number of their players lacking in technique, were often forced into turning over possession as Tivoli rushed them into play with concentrated pressure that limited their time and space, and for the entire first half they were quite tame as they never mounted a serious goal challenge.

Tivoli, full of running, were rampaging throughout and took the lead when a short corner was played inside to Dean by Jackson. The striker then hit a sweet shot to ensure the only conversion of the first half; though Craig Stewart got an outstanding opportunity to double the lead three minutes later.

Real poacher's goal

Three minutes into the second half, goalkeeper Leighton Murray spilled a cross from Jameel Gordon, enabling Dean to benefit with a real poacher's goal.

With the stocky Devon Hodges leading Rivoli's resistance up front and Enrico Beech doing his best to settle the team, there was a bit of a Rivoli resurgence as the half lengthened, but Tivoli were always more dangerous and went three up five minutes from time when Dean curled a beauty over the wall off a controversial free kick, that was twice kicked into the goal.

Striker Navion Boyd was kicked over in a late tackle as he toed the ball to Dean in an offside position. Rivoli felt referee Lewin Purser should have called offside, but the man in charge called the foul that came first.

With the ref pushing back the ball, Walters kicked the ball into the unprotected net. But Purser wasn't ready and called back the play, leading to Dean's hat-trick in the real scenario.

In time added, a corner kick bounced on to a Tivoli defender's hand and Hodges netted the penalty.