Humble Lions FC beat Rivoli United 2-1 in Sunday’s Digicel Premier League game at the Spanish Town Prison Oval to strengthen their chances of avoiding relegation.

Omar Walters and Zico Herrara got the goals for the visitors, while Devon Hodges had equalised for Rivoli.

Humble Lions now move up to 15 points, the same as Village United, while Rivoli remain just above relegation danger on 17 points.

In the early exchanges of a fiery, fast-paced first-half, Rohan Williams almost put Humble Lions ahead when his grounder went wide of the upright. Herrara then gave goal keeper Leon Goffe warning of what was to come when he fizzed a shot from 25 yards just wide of the upright with the latter rooted to the spot.

The Lions were then down to ten men when Tyrone Lampart was given his second yellow card in the 44th minute and then almost immediately Rivoli’s Fabian Gordon was given a straight red for showing dissent.

The second half started at the same high tempo and it was the Lions who drew first blood in the 53rd minute when Walters connected to place a powerful downward header into the goal from a Phillip Fearon corner.

The visiting supporters were still celebrating when Rivoli equalised one minute later through leading striker Hodges, who exploited a flat-footed defence to turn inside the 18-yard box and slotted beyond advancing goalkeeper Damion Crooks.

An end-to-end battle transpired and the Clarendon-based team delivered the telling blow in the 75th minute when Herrara picked up a loose ball and struck a right-footed blinder from 35 yards out which left Goffe hopelessly sprawling to his left.

Rivoli were fortunate not to lose by a wider margin as hard-running striker Kevin Mighty wrong-footed their defence and unleashed a left-footer from just inside the area which crashed into the crossbar and back into play.