Adrian Frater, News Editor

Wadadah's Omar Christie (left) makes a hasty clearance during yesterday's National Premier League elimination match at the Urban Development Corporation's playing field in Montego Bay. At right is Rivoli United's Fidel Anderson. Rivoli won 3-0. - photo by Adrian Frater

Western Bureau:

Rivoli United injected new life into their bid to return to top-flight football yesterday afternoon when two goals by Devon Hodges and a penalty from Marlon Edwards carried them to an emphatic 3-0 win over a hapless Wadadah FC in their third, round National Premier League (NPL) elimination game at the Urban Development Corporation's playing field in Montego Bay.

"Coming off a loss against Meadhaven on Wednesday, we knew we had to get it right today," said Rivoli's coach Anthony Thompson. "We made a number of changes coming into today's game and despite a good showing from Wadadah, I think our victory today was most deserving."

By virtue of their win, the Rivoli team, considered the favourites to advance alongside KSAFA champions Meadhaven, jumped to six points while Wadadah with three defeats in three games remain rooted at the bottom of the four-team competition.

Missed taking the lead

The game started with Rivoli looking quite ominous in attack and pressing forward in numbers. They just missed taking the lead inside the first minute when Fidel Anderson got behind the Wadadah defence but his shot was parried by goalkeeper Triston Bernard.

Rivoli went on to miss further chances in the seventh minute when Dwayne Hunter fired wide from close range and again in the 25th when Anderson left the Wadadah defence for dead but unbelievably booted wide.

After surviving Wadadah's first purposeful attack of the game in the 34th minute when Rohan Reid pounced on a loose ball before the goal but fired wide, Rivoli were awarded a penalty in the 38th minute when a defender was penalised for handling the ball. Edwards made no mistake from the spot.

The second half was all Rivoli as Wadadah all but folded under non-stop pressure. They should have doubled their lead in the 48th minute but Anderson squandered his third easy chance of the game.

Powerful header

However, it was not long before Rivoli went further ahead. A corner kick from the right found Hodges unmarked inside the goal area and his powerful header gave goalkeeper Bernard no chance as it crashed into the back of the net, making the score 2-0 in the 50th minute.

Wadadah launched two counter-attacks in the 55th and 58th minutes but both were unsuccessful. First, substitute Jeremy Bucknor hit wide from six yards and then Reid found the side netting from a difficult angle.

In a bid to put the zip back into their attack, Rivoli introduced ace striker Patrick Beech in the 63rd minute and while he did not score, the momentum swung back to his team. Rivoli sealed the issue on the stroke of full time when Hodges danced through the Wadadah defence, beat the goalkeeper and slotted home.

Wadadah 0

Rivoli 3

Marlon Edwards 38th, Devon Hodges 50th and 90th