Tivoli Garden's midfielder Jermaine Johnson (right) attempts to restrain teammate Craig White who was moving towards referee Donald Hawthrone after he was given marching orders during their JNBS Federation Cup match against Bull Bay at Bull Pen yesterday. Bull Bay won 5-4 on penalties. - Ian AllenBy Melton Williams,
Staff Reporter
MAJOR Leaguers Bull Bay yesterday pulled off a giant-killing act at Bull Pen to tame Premier League team Tivoli Gardens 5-4 on penalties and progressed in the JNBS Federation Cup knock out.
They are now in the quarter-final round.
Bull Bay had to secure victory the hard way following a 2-2 scoreline in regulation play and 30 minutes extra time against nine-man Tivoli Gardens, which turned on the heat in a dramatic sudden death period after Craig White and captain Steve Green were sent off.
The winners, who trailed twice, achieved victory courtesy of a perfect conversion record during the penalties.
In the penalty shootout, the Bull Bay kickers kept their nerves and the team was rewarded with conversions from Keno Forbes, Caetano Rainford, Richard Brown, Oneil Martin and captain Andrew Williams.
National midfielder Jermaine Johnson missed Tivoli's only chance after Christopher Nicholas and Andrew Chisolm had converted the first two goals. Kasai Hinds and Marco McDonald were the other players on target for Tivoli.
Tivoli, which were relegated to 10 men after White was sent off for two bookable offences in the 44th minute, opened the scoring through the hard-working Green in the 48th minute. Bull Bay hit back through Michael Lewis in the 64th minute, but within four minutes national under-20 player Christopher Nicholas put Tivoli ahead.
Oneil Martin tied the score in the 77th minute and in the 87th minute Tivoli received a further setback when Green received marching orders from referee Donald Hawthorne.
Barrington Gaynor, the coach of Bull Bay who have a date with Shortwood for the Major League title, said that his team played the better game and deserved to win.
"We were the better team, we played well especially in midfield where we outplayed Tivoli. They only got one chance to win the game and that was through Nicholas in sudden death extra time," Gaynor said.
Tivoli Gardens' coach Ali McNab said it was hard to compete with two men down.
"It was an uphill battle all the way. We created chances to win. Nicholas got the winner during sudden death but failed to convert his chance," said McNab.
However, Bull Bay's achievement did not come as a surprise to McNab. "The difference between the leagues here are marginal ... but in the end we didn't take our chances," concluded McNab.
Although Tivoli played with nine men during the sudden death period they looked more effective in their offensive play with Nicholas and Johnson lifting their game tremendously.
Nicholas and Johnson showing good attacking skills were able to put the Bull Bay defenders under severe pressure, a feature which was missing against the hard-running Bull Bay in regulation time which got very physical at times.
Of the two, Nicholas was more effective as he singlehandedly wore down the defenders who succumbed to the pressure towards the end of the final period. But Nicholas let Bull Bay off the hook when he hammered straight at Wayne Roberts in goal after working his way into the 18-yard box
RESULTS
Duhaney Park 0 Constant Spring 1
Rivoli 1 Arnett Gardens 5
Bull Bay 2 Tivoli Gardens 2 (Bull Bay won 5-4 on penalties)
Galaxy 2 Harbour View 3
Wadadah 2 Hazard 1
Brazil 0 Waterhouse 6
Olympic 1 Seba United 3
Violet Kickers will play Reno at Herbert Morrison at 3:00 pm. today.
