Boys' Town's Jamiel Hardware is tackled from behind by Village United's Ladale Ritchie during their Digicel Premier League encounter yesterday at Collie Smith Drive. Hardware scored in Boys' Town's 2-1 win. - Ricardo Makyn

The battle for the 2010/2011 Digicel Premier League title seems destined to go to the wire as the gap between the two contenders, Tivoli Gardens and Boys' Town has dwindled to just three points, following yesterday's results.

Leaders Tivoli Gardens for the seventh consecutive league meeting failed to get the better of Portmore United, as they were held to a nil-all stalemate at Ferdie Neita Park, despite their hosts going down to ten men in the 39th minute when Richard Allen was given his marching orders. The result left Tivoli on 65 points.

Boys' Town moved to 62 points after defeating Village United 2-1 at Collie Smith Drive. The Red Brigade's goals came by way of captain Michael Campbell (36th pen) and Jamiel Hardware (65th), while Aldain Grant netted for the Villagers in the 63rd minute. Both teams finished with ten players following the ejection of Village United's Ronaldo Rodney (71st) and Boys' Town's Oneil 'Bigga' Thompson (78th, both for serious foul play.

The final round of games, which is slated for May 1, could see Tivoli and Boys' Town locked in a winner-takes-all encounter, as they are set to meet at the Edward Seaga Sports Complex. Boys' Town's other two league encounters are against Portmore United and Waterhouse will also be away from home. Tivoli will host Waterhouse on Wednesday before playing away to Harbour View.

maximum points

Boys' Town's coach, Andrew Price, is cognisant of how important it is for his team to gain maximum points from all their remaining encounters.

"At least we are eating into the lead," Price said in relation to Tivoli's result. "We just have to continue taking care of business and if they (Tivoli) happen to make slip-ups we must make use of that opportunity, so all we have to do is continue winning our games," he added.

Sporting Central Academy have secured their place in the country's top flight for next season, after clipping relegation threatened Benfica 1-0 courtesy of a 54th minute strike by Hughan Gray. Sporting are now on 46 points, nine clear of bottom-place Benfica (37) and Humble Lions (37).

Arnett Gardens, despite leaving it late, moved closer to safety, as a 25-yard drive by Rohan Reid in time added on was enough to take them past Humble Lions and lift them to 44 points.

Harbour View (54) consolidated third place as they nipped fourth-place Waterhouse (50) 1-0. Fabian Taylor scored for the Stars of the East in the 57th minute, while Vincent Earl was ejected for Waterhouse in the 87th minute. Meanwhile, St Georges continued their march toward safety after a 2-0 win over Reno at Lynch Park. Lead by goals from Ricardo Watson 28th minute and Bobby-Joe Huie (41st) the Portland outfit moved to 42 points and held on to 10th spot.

Portmore's Alanzo Adlam and Tivoli's Navion Boyd fly into a challenge in a Digicel Premier League match at Ferdie Neita Park yesterday. - Ricardo Makyn