DRAX HALL, St Ann — Highgate edged Cavalier 1-0 to end their Red Stripe Premier League life on a winning note, but the moment also formally condemned the St Mary outfit to confederation football next season as they were demoted.

Severo Murphy scored in the 23rd minute but, as it turned out, his goal was meaningless in the end.

Highgate coach Michael Smith was a picture of dejection at game’s end. “We came out positive… and our transition was excellent, but faulty (shooting) cost us the game and (now) we dropped out of the league,” he said.

Smith believes Highgate’s season was put in a tailspin from the early part of the competition. “Our downfall was the first round as we played eleven games and picked up only five points,” he lamented.

He added that playing home games away at neighbouring parish St Ann at Drax Hall, did not help the team.

“Playing away from home placed us at a disadvantage and if the MP (Dr Morais Guy) did a better job in helping us to get a home field, we may have been in the Premier League for another season. Our away record is better than that of home as away we were placed seventh and at home we were at eleventh.

“If we had a home field we could have accumulated more points at home and surviving the regulation,” Smith added.

Highgate got their goal when Carlos Barrett was brought down in the area. Murphy scored when his right-footer curled over the wall beating Cavalier custodian Gariece McPherson.

Highgate join Savannah as the relegated teams and were hoping to avoid the drop at the expense of Sporting Central Academy whose 2-2 draw against Montego Bay United on Sunday turned out to be enough to guide them to safety.

Both Highgate and Sporting Central Academy finished the season on 44 points, but the Clarendon-based team ended in 10th spot with a better goal average. Sporting record reads -5 goal difference, having scored 39 goals and conceded 44, while Highgate ended with a -9 goal difference, with 40 goals scored and 49 against.

TEAMS:

Highgate — Andre Dyce, Romaine Hamilton, Kwesi Campbell, Jahmika Hutchinson, Severo Murphy, Christopher Harris (Raymond Thompson 71st), Shamir Stewart, Kevin Williams (Sheldon Davis 46th), Gawayne Speed, Carlos Barrett (Nicholas Sewell 75th) Richard Allison.

Subs not used: Kadeen Davis, Charles Williams, Omerio Yorke, Devonte Francis

Booked: Severo Murphy 83rd

Cavalier — Gariece McPherson, Deno Schaffe, Andre Forbes, Oshane Jenkins, Donovan Alveranga, Claudius Blackburn (Chad Bennett 77th), Odane Greensword, Geovaunie Samuda, Rasheede Clarke (Odaine Simpson 83rd), Ryan Miller, Jeffrey Henry (Fabian Swaby 66th).

Subs not used: Gregory Gayle, Everdean Scarlett, Chevon Marsh

Referee: Kevin Morrison

Assistants: Nicholas Anderson; Terrence McKenzie

Fourth Official: Wilverglen Lamey

Match Commissioner: Tracy Reid

— EVERARD OWEN