Tivoli erased any mathematical chance of missing out on the first end-of-round final, despite playing to a 3-3 draw with Rivoli United at the Edward Seaga Sports Complex yesterday in the Digicel Premier League.

In only the first minute of play, Rivoli's Kirk Ramsay dribbled through the heart of the Tivoli defence before firing his team into the lead. It, however, took Tivoli only eight minutes to equalise when their captain Navion Boyd took a quick free kick, which Jameel Thompson redirected through Rivoli's keeper Leon Goffe's legs.

Tivoli then took charge of the game and the combination of Roland Dean and Boyd in the 34th and 42nd minutes put them 3-1 up. On two separate occasions, Dean had produced expertly weighted passes for Boyd, who hammered them both home.

seize control

Tivoli came out flat for the second half and this allowed Rivoli to seize control of the game. Rivoli got their second goal in the 54th minute when Devon Hodges converted a penalty after Tivoli's Jerry Walters had brought down Fidel Anderson in the box. Ramsay then headed in his second of the game in the 80th minute to earn his team a draw.

Meanwhile, Harbour View stayed in contention for a spot in the Digicel Premier League (DPL ) first end-of-round final following a 2-0 win over Village United at the Elliston Wakeland Centre. Marcelino Blackburn scored in the 13th and 85th minutes to ensure that the former champions collected three valuable points. It was Village's first home loss of the season.

The win moved the Stars of the East to 19 points behind already qualified Tivoli (23).

At Ferdie Neita Park, second-place team St Georges strenghtened their end-of-round chances with an impressive 1-0 victory over Portmore United with midfielder Leon Irving finding the winner in the 21st minute of play. The win moved St Georges to 21 points.

And at Effortville in Clarendon, striker Leon Strickland's last-gasp header was enough to secure a 1-0 victory and all three points for 10-man Arnett Gardens in a hard-fought victory over the troubled Humble Lions.

Strickland, who wasted a much easier opportunity in the dying moments of the first half, shooting straight at goalkeeper Sheldon Brown after being played through by Garfield Gillespie, rose unmarked inside the six-yard box to convert a Lennox Creary corner, as referee Courtney Campbell got ready to bring the game to an end.

The win consolidates the Junglists' mid-table credentials after a poor start to the campaign and in the process relegated the misfiring Humble Lions outfit to their fifth loss so far in their maiden top-flight experience.

proud coach

Arnett Garden's player/coach Fabian Davis was proud of his players' response to going a man down, and credited their determination and ability to stick to instructions.

Said Davis, "Both teams were really pushing it but hats off to my players for coming out with the three points, especially after playing with 10 men."

"We just need to keep on putting in our chances and we will be good, we are working well in the defence and the concentration level around the back has improved big time," Davis said.

In other results, Waterhouse defeated bottom-of-the-table August Town 4-1 at Drewsland, while Boys' Town defeated Sporting Central 2-1 at Brancourt.

Dwight Heron attempts to dribble past Rivoli's Luke Soares in the Digicel Premier League match between Tivoli Gardens and Rivoli United at Edward Seaga Sports Complex. - Ian Allen

RESULTS

Tivoli Gardens 3 Rivoli United 3

Village United 0 Harbour View 2

Sporting Central 1 Boys' Town 2

Humble Lions 0 Arnett Gardens 1

Waterhouse 4 August Town 1

Portmore 0 St Georges 1.