Meadhaven United's striker, Leighton Neita (left), is stopped in his tracks with a karate-styled hit from the outstretched hand of Tivoli Gardens midfielder Steve Green, while Tivoli defender Victor Thompson (partly hidden) reacts during their Digicel Premier League football match at Constant Spring yesterday. Tivoli won 2-0. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer

IT took Tivoli Gardens 68 minutes to crack 10-man Meadhaven, before registering a 2-0 win over the struggling promoted side in their second round Digicel Premier League encounter at Constant Spring yesterday.

Unmarked Damion Gordon's tame shot from inside the area trickled past goalie Andrew Gibson appealing for off-side in the 77th minute. Jermaine Taylor finished off Meadhaven in the 89th with a powerful shot, which gave Gibson no chance.

Tivoli stayed second with their win, moving to 24 points, still two behind leaders Harbour View, who beat Village 2-1 at the Elleston Wakeland Centre.

Meadhaven, who lost Rohan Reid in the ninth minute - ejected for an elbow on Steve Green - stayed 10th in the table, sharing 11 points with ninth-place Arnett Gardens, who have a better goal difference.

Meadhaven held a tight 5-3-1 formation after Reid's ejection with striker Keammar Daley dropping back in midfield, leaving Leighton Neita as the lone forward.

Tivoli should have really capitalised in the first half but Navion Boyd was twice denied by stout defending from his marker, Kirk Duckworth.

Boyd rounded goalie Gibson two minutes after Reid's ejection, but hit his shot against the upright and had two subsequent follow-ups blocked by Duckworth.

The speedy Tivoli striker was again left cursing his luck in the 41st, patiently awaiting a high cross from the left at the back post, but his volley was stopped by Duckworth on the goal line.

Tivoli goalie Edsel Scott was only called into action once in the first half, going down low to collect Daley's free-kick in the 35th.

Meadhaven got the first chance of the second half when Daley, the team's engine, sent Norman Bailey clear down the left side in the 10th minute, but the midfielder's powerful grounder was blocked by Scott at his near post.

Meadhaven seemed set to repeat their first round 1-1 draw against Tivoli but the 58th minute substitution of an injured Duckworth handed Tivoli another advantage.

Tivoli coach Lenworth Hyde Snr. brought on fresh legs, Jermaine Allen for Kemar Mills in the 62nd and Jermaine Taylor for Oraine Simpson in the 65th.

Gordon breached a weakened Meadhaven in the 77th, surprising even himself as he was unmarked and turned a speculative shot towards goal, which caught Gibson flat-footed as the 'keeper looked to the referee for help, hoping to hear an off-side call.

Another attacking substitution by Tivoli, Jermaine Grey for Boyd in the 80th, put more pressure on Meadhaven's defence and it was no surprise when Taylor picked up a pass from Green and buried a shot past Gibson from inside the box.

Hyde praised Meadhaven for their gritty display and said anxiety to score against the 10-man team got the better of his side in the first half.

"We expected a tough match," he said. "When playing against 10 men, anxiety sets in. We were rushing it too much. We spoke about it at half-time, kept our calm in the second-half and the goals came," he pointed out.

Meadhaven's Alrick Clarke said his team gave their all but were undone by the ejection, then injury to Duckworth.

"They played exciting football but we went a man down in the first half and another man down with the injury. It took a toll on the players. It was a gallant effort from which we should have, at least, taken a point," he said.