FORMER national and Portmore United striker Roen Nelson scored a 75th-minute goal to carry surprise team Highgate to a 2-1 victory over Rivoli United as the second round of the Premier League Play-Off Series began at the Spanish Town Prison Oval yesterday.

The result all but booked for the St Mary side a ticket into next season’s Digicel Premier League (DPL), while virtually eliminating the Spanish Town side, which up to two seasons ago played in the nation’s top league.

Rivoli’s faint hopes lay in yesterday’s late game between Seba United and Cavalier FC, where a draw would provide a slim chance for them to advance.

Highgate now lead the table with eight points — three more than Seba, who were down to play Cavalier (four points) in the late game at Jarrett Park. Rivoli are at the bottom of the pile with a point.

Luke Soares fired the home side ahead after 37 minutes, but the visitors restored parity five minutes later through Richard Orrett.

After a dramatic second half that saw the hosts missing a penalty, Nelson struck 15 minutes from time to secure a valuable three points for the St Mary-based Highgate.

“This is our third game on the road and I told the team, ‘win this one and we will have one foot in the Premier League’,” said winning coach Calvin Lewis.

“They worked really hard and showed that they want to go to the Premier League today,” Lewis added.

After a tense first half-hour, the home team broke the deadlock when Rivoli’s best player Soares raced onto a long ball and took it past Leighton Murray in goal before slotting home.

However, the visitors were back on even keel minutes later when Rivoli’s goalkeeper Marlon Henry failed to handle a high ball played into the area which fell kindly to Richards who fired into an empty net for his second goal in as many games.

Rivoli had three great opportunties to edge back in front in the first quarter-hour after the break. Two minutes into the period, Fidel Anderson’s low, curling freekick hit the post and went out.

Five minutes later, the home team was awarded a penalty when Anthowe Dawkins was adjudged to have handled a ball in the penalty area.

However, to their dismay, Anderson’s poorly-taken spot kick was saved by Murray to keep Highgate in the match.

On the hour mark, Soares found an unmarked Christopher Hayles at the far post, but the full-back volleyed over the bar from six yards.

Egged on by a massive following and buoyed by the missed penalty, Highgate started playing with more belief. Carlos Barrett should have put them ahead in the 65th minute when he walked through the Rivoli defence but failed to beat Henry, who was quick off his line.

At the other end, Rivoli continued to hunt the go-ahead goal and created a number of chances which they failed to convert. In the 74th minute they thought they had the elusive goal when Hayles found room at the back post and cannoned a shot off the crossbar and onto the goal-line on its way out.

With referee Wilverglen Lamey waving ‘play on’, Highgate countered even while the Rivoli players were still protesting and found the prolific Nelson, who broke away and slotted past the advancing Henry to send the travelling supporters into wild celebration.

Despite going behind, Rivoli fought to the end and had a few half-chances, but could not take advantage of any.

“The ball is just not running in our favour in this play-off competition, so we just have to take it on the chin,” said Rivoli’s coach Calvert Fitzgerald.

“I thought we gave it our all, but things just did work for us… and it has gone like that from the start of the playoffs,” he added.