PORTMORE United’s miserable goalscoring form continued as the former Premier League champions failed to score for the third consecutive time in a 0-1 loss to Sporting Central Academy on Sunday.

The usually efficient Portmore aggregation has scored only 10 times from 18 games this season, while conceding 13 goals.

Gary McIntosh with three goals remains their top scorer and he hasn’t scored since September 16 — the third game into the season.

What is frightening is that Portmore, as a team, have scored three goals in their last 10 encounters and have fallen just six points above the relegation zone.

They have lost more games already this season than they did in the previous four years.

In 2008/09 they were defeated six times; in the 2007/08 campaign they lost five games, and were defeated thrice in the 2006/07 season. In 2005/06 they lost four games for an average of 4.5 games per season.

Over those four seasons comprising 132 games, Portmore lost just 18 times and have never finished lower than fourth. In fact, they won in the 2008 season, finished second in 2007 and 2009 and were fourth in 2006.

Currently, they have lost seven times from just 18 games and are in eighth spot on 21 points from 18 games — their lowest position for almost a decade.

This is unfamiliar waters for the St Catherine-based outfit and coach Linval Dixon might just be the next casualty of the league.

With just five wins from 18 games, Portmore are languishing 15 points behind leaders Harbour View and with 20 games remaining, their season is as good as over.

Not only are they 15 points behind the leader, but they are also 14 adrift of champions Tivoli Gardens, 10 behind St Georges and nine off both Boys’ Town and Waterhouse.

Baring that in mind, it is unlikely Portmore can surpass those teams, even if they make a tremendous run to finish the season.

The blooding of young players is nothing new to Portmore United, thus that cannot be an excuse for their dismal form.

Meanwhile, Harbour View maintained pole position with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Rivoli United.

Former champions Waterhouse continued their fabulous form with a 2-1 away win over Humble Lions to be just six points off the leaders.

Waterhouse have won nine of their last 13 games and coach Geoffrey Maxwell has them sitting in the cat-bird’s seat just waiting to pounce.

Meanwhile, relegation favourites August Town stunned Arnett Gardens 4-2, coming from two goals down, for only their third win of the season.

It was a crucial win for the promoted outfit which was without a head coach after a frustrated Calvert Fitzgerald resigned following the Village United game on December 13.

August Town joined both Humble Lions and Village United on 15 points, but remain at the bottom based on their inferior goal difference.

National striker Keammar Daley grabbed a brace in Tivoli Gardens’ 3-0 mauling of Village United, taking his tally to six.

Daley is now fourth on the goalscoring chart, six behind leader Devon Hodges of Rivoli United with 12 goals.

His teammate Navion Boyd, who also scored Sunday, is on seven, behind Waterhouse’s Kevin Lamey, who also scored against Humble Lions.

Third-placed St Georges of Portland slipped five points off the pace after losing 0-1 to Boys’ Town, who in turn are only a point behind in fourth.

Twenty yellow cards and one red were issued, with Waterhouse receiving the highest number of cautions — four — to go with the dismissal of Hugh Howell.

Harbour View were the only team not to pick up a caution, thus ending the round squeaky clean and on top of the league with one game before the end of the year.