Boys' Town ended defending champions Harbour View bid to retain the Dicigel Premier League (DPL) crown, following a 2-1 victory over their rivals at Collie Smith Drive yesterday.

In the process, the Red Brigade kept their hopes of claiming the trophy alive, as they kept pace with leaders Tivoli, who kicked off their final-round push with a come-from-behind 3-1 win over Village United.

The leaders found themselves behind after Village skipper Troy Smith put the home team in the lead from the penalty spot in the 15th minute. However, a quick double strike from Navion Boyd (40th, 43rd), after Jameel Thompson had levelled the affair in the 23rd minute, gave the home team a valuable three points and a solid start.

30-yard scorcher

Boys' Town also had to show plenty of character to come from behind in their encounter, after Harbour View striker Fabian Taylor blasted a 30-yard scorcher past Boys' Town custodian Kirk Porter, to stun the home crowd in the 35th minute.

However, Xavian Virgo got the home team back on level terms in the 55th minute before Anthony Bennet handed them all three points with his 65th-minutes goal. The win moved Boys' Town to 59 points, five behind Tivoli Gardens. Harbour View on 51 points, 13 points behind, cannot mathematically surpass Tivoli Gardens as only four rounds remain. With Harbour View the closest team to the top two, the result means the DPL title is now officially a two-horse race.

important goal

Already out of contention, Waterhouse also officially ended Portmore's hopes following a 1-0 win at Drewsland. Kemar Rodney got the important goal for Waterhouse in the 42nd minute.

Clarendon-based clubs Sporting Central and Humble Lions both scored important wins at home yesterday to significantly aid their ambitions to survive relegation from the DPL.

Sporting scored a whopping four unanswered strikes against Arnett Gardens at Brancourt to hit the top of the bottom-six table on 43 points, while Humble Lions pipped Reno 1-0 at Effortville to move to 37 points. However. Humble Lions remained in the relegation zone after St Georges clipped Benfica 2-1 at Drax Hall

Ricardo Watson put the Portland team ahead in the fifth, but Carlos Smith brought the score level with his 62nd-minute strike. There was to be late drama, however, as Damion Harwood found the back of the net in the 93rd minute to earn crucial points. The result moved St Georges to 39 points, just above the drop zone and left Benfica in the danger area on 37 points.