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Tivoli Gardens defeated
Arnett Gardens 1-0 and won the
Digicel Premier League title
on
goal difference
ahead of Portmore United while Meadhaven joined Reno as the
relegated teams.
At the
Edward Seaga
Stadium, Tivoli Gardens captured their fourth lien on the
premier league following victories in 1983, 1999 and 2004.
Oraine Simpson converted the all-important goal in the 30th
minute from the penalty spot after goalkeeper Damion Hyatt
upended him in the box. He took himself up and easily converted
the resultant spot kick sending the complex into a frenzy of
celebration.
It was all Tivoli needed as both Portmore and Harbour View
failed to score and nullified each other.
Tivoli Gardens which started the day in second position, two
points behind Portmore United, finished on 72 points, the same
as Portmore United but won the league courtesy of their superior
goal difference of plus 24 to Portmore’s 23.
Portmore United which started the day in pole position on 71
points were held to a 0-0 draw by third-placed Harbour View at
the Compound.
Portmore had an eight-point lead 11 days ago but failed to win
in their last four games while losing twice and lost their
title.
Portmore had no one to blame and must be cursing their luck in
missing out on the $2.5m winner’s cheque and instead will have
to settle for $1.5m runners-up prize.
A series of missed chances by Harbour View and some brilliant
goalkeeping by Dwayne Kerr secured second spot for Portmore
United.
Former champions Harbour View finished third on 69 points after
rallying late to make it a three-team race to the wire.
Meanwhile at Frome, Meadhaven United were held to a 1-1 draw by
Reno and were relegated with an inferior goal difference.
Meadhaven finished on 39 points, the same as sporting Central
Academy but with an inferior goal difference of -17 compared to
Sporting’s -10.
Omar Dallas gave the already relegated Reno the lead in the 24th
minute but Leighton Neita equalized for Meadhaven in 54th minute
but it was not enough to save them from relegation.
Former three-time champion Reno of Westmoreland finished their
campaign on 33 points, five behind Meadhaven and both will be
playing Super League football next season.
It was Meadhaven’s first time in the top flight and they never
survived.
Village United continued their fine form edging Sporting Central
Academy 2-1 to climb to safety on 40 points after bringing up
the rear for most of the season.
The Trelawny team won five of their last six matches in a
remarkable run to safety, similar to last year.
Top defender Jeff Pearce turned striker, must come in for
special mention scoring five goals in the crucial run in. He
netted in the 80th minute to seal Village’s ninth win of the
season from 38 games. He finished has the team’s second highest
scorer behind
Troy Smith
with six goals.
Marrian Grant had opened the scoring in 65th minute while
Sporting got their goal courtesy of an own goal in the 93rd
minute.
Clarendon-based Sporting were lucky Meadhaven failed to win or
they would have been relegated in their third season in the
premier league.
Meanwhile Devon Hodges won the
golden boots
award with 25 goals after grabbing a brace in Rivoli United’s
2-1 win over St George’s FC at
Lynch Park.
Hodges scored in the 73rd and 79th minutes to celebrate his
called up to the national programme last week by the JFF in
preparation for an International friendly against Haiti
on Saturday.
Damion Harewood scored for a St George’s team which lost four of
their last five games.
Rivoli of St Catherine ended seventh with 45 points while St
George’s finished eight with 43 points.
At Drewsland, home team Waterhouse beat Boys’ Town 2-1 to end
their inconsistent form this season to finish sixth on 49
points.
Irvino
English netted in the 12th minute before Damion
Williams doubled the advantage in the 44th minute.
Veteran Oneil McDonald pulled one back for Boys’ Town in the 69th
minute.
Despite losing Boys’ Town wrapped up fourth spot with 57 points,
one ahead of Arnett which lost to Tivoli Gardens.
With
the DPL climaxing with an exciting finale, the JFF premier
league is up next with August Town of KSAFA, Humble Lion of
Clarendon, St Ann’s Brazil and Wadadah of St James set to battle
for premier league promotion.
The top two teams will
qualify with games set to start on Wednesday.
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