Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter
Tivoli Gardens' Victor Thompson (right) prepares to kick the ball as he turns away from Constant Spring's Nigel Reid during the Wray and Nephew National Premier League match at Constant Spring Complex yesterday. Tivoli Gardens won 3-0. - JUNIOR DOWIE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
THE BATTLE to remain in top flight football has not started positively for Constant Spring in the third and final round, as they received a 3-0 hammering at the hands of Tivoli Gardens in Wray and Nephew National Premier League action at Constant Spring Complex yesterday.
"We're at the bottom of the table fighting for relegation and we make two blunders like that," a disappointed Maurice 'Danny' Lyn, technical director of Constant Spring, said of lapses that led to the first two goals. His team is tied to the bottom of the standings on 16 points with Spanish Town's Rivoli United, six behind nearest rivals Reno.
The failure to capititalise on their opportunities saw both teams play to a scoreless first half.
However, the crafty Jermaine Johnson would soon correct this a minute after resumption for Tivoli, when he outmuscled defender Daemion Benjamin to a through ball and cut inside another before comfortably slotting the ball into the back of the net.
Constant Spring's woes would deepen in the 76th minute when an unmarked Jermaine Taylor masterfully brought a ball played towards the far post under control, before effortlessly lobbing past a hapless Kirk Williams, Constant Spring custodian.
"I don't think that these players understand what it is to focus and play a football game," Lyn further commented. "We got our chances but we made mistakes at the front and at the back and, obviously, we can't go anywhere like that."
FINE FINISH
Oraine Simpson would finish off the game in fine style for Tivoli on the stroke of full-time with a goal that was almost embarrassing for Constant Spring. Before the ball was easily driven home by Simpson, Tivoli had strung together at least seven uninterrupted passes at the top of the Constant Spring 18-yard box.
"We started with a different tactical approach for the second round and the guys came out and executed well," said Glendon 'Admiral' Bailey, coach of Tivoli, which leapfrogged Village (34 points) to claim third on goal difference alongside Portmore United at 35 points.
"We have been plagued by injuries all season but this round we will be looking to make a run."
GOALSHEET
Constant Spring 0
Tivoli 2
Jermaine Johnson, 46th
Jermaine Taylor, 76th
Oraine Simpson, 91st
