Tivoli Gardens' Kevin Blackford (left) and Humble Lions' Phillip Fearon race to reach the ball in a Digicel Premier League encounter at the Edward Seaga Sports Complex earlier this season. - Ian Allen

Defending championsTivoli Gardens rallied to their familiar spot atop this season's Digicel Premier League after tagging Humble Lions 2-0 in a rescheduled encounter at Effortville yesterday.

This result, along with Harbour View's tame 0-0 stalemate with Sporting Central Academy at Brancourt, sent the Tivoli Gardens team to 30 points, one more than previous leader St Georges and Harbour View.

Tivoli got first-half goals from their strike pair of Owen Powell and captain Navion Boyd.

Humble Lions were second best for the first half despite playing with heart and determination. They remain in 11th place on 12 points.

At Brancourt, not many chances were created but the better openings came for Sporting, including a wasted François Swaby opportunity when the striker failed to make the most of some enterprising play from Jevaughn Watson who carved an expert cross after getting behind Dicoy Williams in the second half.

Despite a flurry of activity by Jermaine Hue in the last 10 minutes, Harbour View's forwards were largely missing in action, leaving coach Donavon Hayles to admit to being grateful for the final scoreline.

"We were away from home and given the conditions, the team stood up and fight," Hayles said.

mild satisfaction

Despite dropping five possible points in two games, he expressed mild satisfaction that the point earned ensured the leaders were still within reach, especially considering that they will face the struggling August Town in their next home game.

"The feeling is ok and we are still within just one win of the leaders. We have to use this game as a springboard against August Town," Hayles added.

Meanwhile, a livid Sporting Central Academy coach Donavon Duckie hurried his interview and was later overheard decrying the way they continued to, in his opinion, dominate teams while failing to take advantage of their scoring opportunities.