Sport

Gillings' lifts 'TG'

By AINSLEY WALTERS, Staff Reporter

STRIKER MARKINO GILLINGS yesterday repaid Tivoli Gardens' confidence in his ability as a goal poacher, netting a double in the Premier League champions' 4-0 win over promoted Wadadah at the Edward Seaga Stadium.

Lining up against the very team he helped back into the Premiership during the playoffs, Gillings, who played for Constant Spring on loan from Wadadah last season, scored in the 36th and 79th minutes after Lenworth Hyde Jr had put Tivoli in front at the 20th from the penalty spot.

Midfielder Fabian Malcolm rounded off the scoring in the 81st minute, sending Wadadah back to Montego Bay with a lot to think about ahead of their home game against Reno at Jarrett Park next Sunday.

'Long way to go'

"I'm very pleased, but we still have a long way to go," coach Glendon 'Admiral' Bailey said after his team's big win. "I saw some things to correct going into the next match but we have time," he added.

Elsewhere around the league, newcomers Arlington proved to neighbours Rivoli that their pre-season 1-1 draw was no fluke, coming from behind twice to tie the Spanish Town derby 2-2 at the Prison Oval.

Homesters Constant Spring held Portmore United to a 0-0 draw at Constant Spring Road whereas Reno-Arnett Gardens was called off at Frome due to a waterlogged field.

At Elliston-Wakeland in Trelawny, coach Peter Cargill made a winning start with Waterhouse, nipping Village 1-0 off Demar Phillips' 65th minute goal.

Wadadah started positively against slick-moving Tivoli but a hand ball in the 20th and goalie Triston Bernard's grave goalmouth error 16 minutes later had them 2-0 behind at the break.

Forward Jermaine 'Tuffy' Anderson's hand ball was converted by Hyde Jr from the penalty spot and Bernard's spill off a cross landed at Gillings' feet inside the six-yard box, providing the former national forward with an easy tap in.

The visitors came out strong after the break with Fabian Blake chipping a cross against goalie Philmore Crumbie's crossbar in the third minute. However, after beating the brilliant Tivoli 'keeper and kissing the bar, the ball fell at the back post, much to the relief of the home crowd.

Close calls

Tivoli survived two other close calls in the first 25 minutes. Anderson brought out a big save from Crumbie off his line with a low grounder in the 57th from inside the right side of the penalty box. Crumbie was again at his best in the 70th with an acrobatic save to block Dillon Thelwell's scorching free-kick from 22 yards.

Wadadah squandered two other chances to score. Anderson's 72nd minute blast while one-on-one with Crumbie went sailing over the crossbar and an alert Crumbie raced off his line to block substitute Carvill Pitter's shot on the edge of the six-yard box six minutes later.

The champions soon made Wadadah pay for missed opportunities. A minute later Gillings met Orane Simpson's cross from the right with a neat volley from eight yards to make the score 3-0.

Malcolm put the icing on the cake when goalie Bernard raced off his line to make a clearance but missed the ball, allowing the Tivoli midfielder to slot into an empty goal.

"We got carried away," lamented Wadadah coach Delroy Delisser. "We started the first half excellently and gave it away. The same thing happened in the second half. We have to work on our concentration. We can't concentrate for 40 minutes," he added.

"I am disappointed. We gave away four easy goals. It's not like Tivoli outplayed us."

Gillings, who had a disappointing end at Constant Spring last season, was elated at his double.

"It feels nice," he said. The vibes at Tivoli is alright and encouraging. I'm comfortable and my game looks improved."

Results

Tivoli Gardens 4 Wadadah 0

Rivoli United 2 Arlington 2

Village 0 Waterhouse 1

Constant Spring 0 Portmore 0

Reno-Arnett Gardens (was not played due to a water-logged field).