Reno FC could only manage a point against leaders Tivoli Gardens in their 1-1 draw at the Edward Seaga Sports Complex in the final match of round three, as teams jostled for preferential placings in the deciding round of the Digicel Premier League.

Needing a win to propel them into the elite group of six, Reno came up short in a ‘hot and cold’ contest which consequently entombed them to the unappealing bottom-six of the league.

Their 41 points were not good enough as Village United moved to 43, snatching sixth spot with a 1-0 win over struggling St George’s SC (36 points) at Lynch Park.

Tivoli, on the other hand, maintained their five-point advantage at the summit with 61 points, as their closest rivals Boys’ Town (56) also drew 1-1 with relegation-troubled Benfica at Drax Hall.

In other games, Arnett Gardens and Humble Lion played out a goalless draw at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex, while Sporting Central Academy and Harbour View ended 2-2 at Brancourt.

At the Seaga Complex, the home team’s first-half dominance paid dividends when unlikely hero Kemar Flemmings popped up for a fortuitous header that bubbled over the head of the Reno custodian Dennis Clayton and into the goal on the stroke of half-time.

The second half clearly belonged to the visitors as they took advantage of their hosts’ laid back approach and punished them when Kevan Grant clumsily steered the ball home from a speculative ball in from the left flank to tie the scores in the 69th minute.

Reno had a glorious opportunity to snatch the win, but Shane Anderson, who fought off two hulky Tivoli Gardens defenders in Marco McDonald and Rupert Murray, could only guide his final touch from 12 yards wide of Leon Gordon’s goal.

Tivoli coach Glendon ‘Admiral’ Bailey could not hide his disappointment at game’s end. “At this juncture of the competition, we were really looking for three points… we played well in the first half, but I believe we dropped our hands in the second half and played as if we already have the game won,” he mourned.

HIs opposite number, Wendell Downswell, has taken heart from his team’s fighting spirit. “We wanted a win and we are disappointed that we didn’t get it, but it was an encouraging performance considering that we were playing the champions at their home,” said the national Under-17 men’s coach.

TEAMS: Tivoli Gardens — Leon Gordon, Christopher Jackson, Marco McDonald, Rupert Murray, Kemar Flemmings, Raymond Williamson, Shawn McKoy (Steve Green 85th), Nackwayne Parchment (Damion Gordon 45th), Keammar Daley, Roland Dean (Nicholas Scott 82nd), Navion Boyd.

Subs not used: E Scott, K Blackford, J Thompson, A Aiken

Booked: McKoy (22nd), Williamson (85th)

Reno FC — Dennis Clayton, Omar Johnson, Miguel Jones, Omar Dallas, Andrae Patterson, Davion Thorpe (Jahshane Foster (36th), Shane Anderson, Damion Jackson (Shashamarley Barrett 63rd), Nicholi Finlayson, Desmond Montique (Kenroy Hutchinson 27th), Kevan Grant.

Subs not used: G Barrett, K Wright, A Loney, T Reid

Booked: Jones (5th)

Referee: Kevin Morrison

Assistant Referees: Stephen Brown, Damion Williams

Fourth Official: Oneal Clayton

Match Commissary: Horace Lewis