CLARENDON PARK, Clarendon — Sporting Central Academy, for a second consecutive year, managed to stave-off relegation from the Digicel Premier League (DPL) on the last day of the season when they rallied for a crucial 2-1 win over Rivoli United, who were relegated following the defeat at Brancourt yesterday.

A superb strike from national midfielder JeVaughn Watson nine minutes from time clinched a 10th-place finish for Sporting Central (43 points), who were beating their South Central neighbours for the third time this season.

Jamoley Powell had earlier cancelled out Devon Hodges league-leading 18th goal when he turned in his own rebound following a brilliant pointblank save from Rivoli’s Leon Goffe.

In other results yesterday as the curtains came down, Arnett Gardens ended with a flourish by spanking relegated August Town 4-0 at the UWI Bowl, Portmore United and Humble Lion drew 0-0 at Ferdie Neita Park, Village United and Boys’ Town ended 1-1 at Collie Smith Drive, while Waterhouse demolished St Georges SC 6-1 at Drewsland.

The win was perhaps made extra special for Sporting as anything else, according to club president Brandon Murray, would virtually signal the end of an ambitious unit that prides itself on exposing young talent.

Vassell Reynolds, who was brought in just before the start of the fourth round to save the team from relegation, said he was never in doubt that the players would pull it off.

“I was never in doubt because we basically had been beating ourselves as we have dominated the games, created chances and that gave us an optimistic feeling coming into the game,” he said.

For Rivoli, the defeat must have been a bitter one as up until the latter part of the third round, they never looked like a team destined for demotion, especially with their talismanic striker Devon Hodges leading the goalscoring chart for a second straight season.

But with a record of 14 defeats, 15 draws and just nine wins in 38 outings, many would say the Spanish Town club was always flirting with danger.

They finished the season on 42 points in 11th place, just one shy of Sporting in the safe zone and are facing relegation for the second time in four seasons, having returned to the DPL in 2008/2009 after they were relegated in 2005/2006.

Coach Oniel Thomas blamed irresponsibility on the part of some players for the defeat. “I think some of the players only played sometime and as you (the reporter) can see, that is what cost us the game,” Thomas said.

After spending most of the first half soaking up pressure from Sporting, Rivoli took the lead against the run of play when Hodges knocked home from the penalty spot in the 29th minute after Gregory Lewis tripped Kirk Ramsey in the box.

But with a mountain to climb, Sporting came out in the second half firing, and after numerous close shaves, they eventually found the leveller in the 60th minute through Powell, who turned in his own rebound.

And just when it looked like it was all over for Sporting, Watson — like he has done all season — popped up with the winner as he pounced on a loose ball then hit a right-footer past Goffe to send the home crowd in a frenzy.

Teams:

Sporting Central — Tristan Huntley, Dale Watson, Marlon Allen, JeVaughn Watson, Camaal Reid, Hughan Gray, Andre Allen (Damarly Samuels 56th), Akeem Annakie, LeVaughn Williams, Gregory Lewis (Romaine Barnes 78th), Jamoley Powell (Jermaine Christian 68th)

Subs not used: Jacomeno Barrett, Dwayne Campbell, Christopher Banner, Renoir Elliot

Booked: Lewis (28th), Watson (88th)

Rivoli United — Leaon Goffe, Omar Parker, Owen Barker, Kirk Ramsey (Luke Soares 63rd), Christopher Hayles, Barrington Planter, David Lewis (Mark Newsome 68th), Devon Powell, Ricardo Knight, Devon Hodges, Fabian Gordon

Subs not used: Derrick Planter, Martin King, Marlon Henry, Abayomi Daquilar, Brian Bayliss

Booked: Hayles (23rd), Barker (ejected 34th), Gordon (77th)

Referee: Valdin Ledgister

Assistants: Kedlee Powell, Richard Washington Fourth Official: Dwight Royal Match Commissary: Ewan Scott