The windy game started off at an incredible pace, when Rivoli stole the ball from intercepting Jermaine Hue’s pass in the centre circle before launching a searching counter-attacking run at the heart of the visitors defense.
Dribbling from 25 yards out, through the un protected midfield who were caught going forward in support of the kick-off, coupled with a clod-footed defenders, the nimble linkman played an educated one-two with Devon Hodges on top of the box, before evading the closing centre-half to clip his chip pass the advancing Michaud Barrett in goal. Incredibly this took just 14 seconds, and has been recorded as the fastest goal ever scored this season by Valentine Gardner .
A beehive of activities emanated around the grounds as the prisoners, peeped out their cells through bars, on balcony’s and waved Red and Black cloth in support.
Harbour View were too good to suppress their talent but they would hit back immediately, as the ball was sent to hitman, Kavin Bryan who was hustled throughout before turning his lumbering centre-half, Omar Parkin who by now was pasted on his back as he physically carried him into the penalty box before kicking away both legs for Referee, Courtney Campbell to point to the penalty spot.
Marcelino Blackburn, asserted himself over the ball to convert along the ground away from goalkeeper, Leon Goffe’s diving attempt, to equalize after 5 minutes.
The Prison Oval now rocked in the opposite direction as the traveling Harbour View supporters celebrated in joyous fashion while reveling the early tension.
Yet, more was to come soon after, in minute 10 when the game turned on its head instantly. A cross sent to Kirk Ramsay hovering outside the area on the far side was constantly jostling with the ball and right wingback, Kevin “Swikes” Wooley, as he escaped the trap to enter the area unmolested, took a shot on goal that Barrett did very well to parry from close range as the ball span away from both of them going goalward. Wooley pull around both players to clear the ball up field as Referee Campbell touted his whistle.
Quizically players turned to Campbell to seek instructions, this erupted in shouts of amazement, anger and confusion as he strangely pointed to the penalty spot then flashed a direct Red Card in the direction of Wooley, accusing him fouling the Rivoli United player inside the box and then being the last defender was automatically ejected.
The real question is, how then did he call it so late after giving the player a clear advantage to shot directly on goal, allow play to continue seeing it saved not just once but twice then signaling a penalty when whatever happened or did not was outside the box? When the dust had settled Devon Hodges stroked home the penalty, to resume Rivoli’s lead to 2-1 in the 11th minute.
The vexed HVFC Supporters seethed with anger, in total dismay at what Campbell was doing as the Number 1, official in CONCACAF?
He would get worse quickly as he faltered throughout the game with embarrassing regularity, a series of flashing “Yellow Cards” were brandished to quell the tempers but alas it made it worse rather than better. Bodies lay across the pitch with reckless abandon, then Jermaine Hue was punched in the face as Kavin Bryan showed the full effects of the obvious boot marks etched on the chest of the striker by Parkin, who miraculously ended the game without a Caution, not a Red Card.
The less said of the deplorable officiating the better.
10 Man HVFC fought on gallantly, now with the wind behind them in the second half they utilized the windy conditions to gain territorial advantage but never pierced the barracks until 70th minute substitute Andre Fagan, received a short corner from Hue and another sub, Nicholas Beckett who floated in a cross as Fagan glanced his header wide of Goffe in the 77th minute to again equalize.
It is an ill-wind that blows no good.
When a counter-attack flew towards both central defenders, the wind held it up as both tried unsuccessfully to punt it back up the field, Kirk Ramsay ran onto it then kicked goalwards as Barrett prepared to save but a players body intervened to deflect it away from him and into the goal in the 82nd minute to restore Rivoli’s lead and win 3-2.