New signings deliver for UWI FC in season opener

After suffering two straight defeats to Tivoli Gardens last season, The University of the West Indies (UWI) FC was finally able to get the better of them in their Red Stripe Premier League season opener in a 4-0 win at the UWI Bowl in Mona yesterday.

What has head coach Andrew Peart beaming is not only the performance of his charges, but also of his goal-scorers who managed to get off the mark in their first game for the club.

Thorn Simpson acquired from FC Reno in the summer along with Devonte Stewart scored on their club debuts, while Jahvari Hylton and Javaugni Barrett got their first goals for the club in the rout.

"I'm very happy for the goal-scorers. It's all their first goals for the club," said Peart. "Thorn and Devonte they are new acquisitions, Barrett is a final-year student in accounting. This is his first goal for the team. And Javahri is a third year student, his first goal for the team. We are happy for them individually and we are happy with how the team played throughout."

Simpson's 13th-minute opener from close range set the tone for the match which UWI dominated throughout with 14 shots with 12 on target.

Hylton doubled their lead five minutes after the break Andrew Humphery intercepted a pass on the right wing and his low pass found Jahvari Hylton who slotted home past Clarke.

BETTER FINISHING

Although Tivoli managed to do a better job of testing UWI goalkeeper Amal Knight in the second half, they were eventually overrun by better finishing.

Barrett had barely been on the field for 10 seconds when he added UWI's third in the 70th minute and Stewart completed proceedings in the 86th.

Peart emphasised that it was a good start to their campaign but warned that it will only be more difficult from here on out.

"It's a good start. I'm pretty sure the challenges will increase as we go on. Tivoli really fought hard today. The score-line might say otherwise but it was a really tough game. And we can expect this from every opponent we play in the upcoming games. We just have to come out with the right mindset, the right intensity and play through the game," he said.