Tivoli Gardens' Roland Dean (facing camera) celebrates scoring against Humble Lions with teammate Dwight Heron during the Digicel Premier League football match at the Edward Seaga Sports Complex yesterday. Tivoli won 3-2. - Ian Allen/Photographer

Defending champions Tivoli Gardens dug deep to survive a stern test from newly promoted Humble Lions, battling from a goal down to emerge 3-2 winners in the Digicel Premier League opener at the Edward Seaga Sports Complex yesterday.

Striker Kevin Mighty displayed the Clarendon team's intention to get straight to business, producing a stunning goal to stagger the west Kingston team with only three minutes having ticked by.

Picking the pocket of a napping Rupert Murray just outside the area, Mighty drove forward to drill the ball high into the top left-hand corner of goal, leaving Tivoli custodian Leon Gordon a mere spectator.

Lacked fluidity

The defending champions, for the most part, lacked fluidity in putting together their attacks, but forward Navion Boyd would not be outdone and his 24th-minute equaliser was just as spectacular as Mighty's opener.

Lurking just outside the area, Boyd, who had struck the post only minutes before, sank his boot into a poorly cleared attempt, which flew like a rocket past a fully stretched Humble Lions custodian Damion Crooks and into the back of the net.

A minute later, the home team hit the front when Roland Dean rose to neatly head a Dwight Heron cross wide of the Humble Lions keeper.

However, the persistent visitors, who almost seemed to outnumber Tivoli in the stands, would find themselves back on level terms, as Errol Wilkie's 58th-minute free kick, from about 30 yards out and to the right of goal, floated over the head of a rooted Gordon before creeping in at the far post.

Keeper beaten

New signing Keammar Daley, who entered the game with around 15 minutes left, proved to be an inspired substitution, needing very little space or time to trap a cross-field pass from Boyd before opening up to roll the ball wide of Humble Lions keeper Crooks.

Though the keeper was beaten, the ball in fact struck the post, but rebounded back into the net off the unfortunate, diving custodian.

"We were caught by a little inexperience in the end today. We lost possession at crucial times but all in all, it was a good effort from the team," said Humble Lions coach Christopher Bender.

"However, we can take a lot of positives from a game like this as we look to improve going forward," he added.

Despite being displeased with some aspects of his team's performance, Tivoli coach Lenworth Hyde Sr was happy to have secured all three points.

"I am happy we got all three points but I think we played in spurts today, (we) didn't pass the ball around very well and didn't keep possession," he said.

"It's always a concern conceding goals, we did that a lot last season and that is something we need to focus on improving," he added.

Tivoli Gardens 3

Navion Boyd 24th

Roland Dean 25th

Keammar Daley 76th

Humble Lions 2

Kevin Mighty 3rd

Errol Wilkie 58th