By Howard Walker

Observer senior reporter

walkerh@jamaicaobserver.com

Portmore United were promoted to the Red Stripe Premier League following a 0-0 draw with the University of West Indies (UWI) in their JFF Confederation Play-off game at Spanish Town Prison Oval yesterday.

Portmore United, who won the Premier League title in 2012 and were relegated in 2014, moved to an unassailable 11 points from five games and made a speedy return to top-flight football.

It was a most valuable point for UWI as they consolidated second spot on eight point, one ahead of York United on seven points, after they got three easy points when Savannah SC failed to show for their game in St Thomas. Savannah remained at the bottom of the four-team playoff with one point.

Portmore United, who also won the nation’s top competition in 2005 and 2008, made heavy weather of today’s encounter against UWI, but did just enough for that valuable point to secure their promotion.

Head coach Linval Dixon was very happy and proud after he guided the former kingpins back into top-flight football after missing just one season.

“I feel elated because we really worked hard this year. We made a lot of mistakes in the Premier League last year, but we learned from them and we need to improve and grow… we need to get some more players to strengthen our team,” said Dixon.

“One point is good enough and it brought us back into the big times and that’s what our aim was,” he added.

Meanwhile, UWI will have to wait until next week when they travel to Savannah in the final round knowing that their destiny is in their hands.

Head coach Marcel Gayle commended his players for a disciplined and tactical game.

“We fought for every ball and were quicker than them today (yesterday) for every fifty-fifty ball, hence we got a point and we are grateful for it,” said Gayle, who is also a part of the coaching staff of the powerful St George’s College schoolboy football team.

But with Savannah’s failure to show for their game against York, which allowed the St Thomas team to move within a point of his team, Gayle argued there must be a valid reason.

“But we are just concentrating on UWI and we just need to stay focus, stay positive for the next game against Savannah on Sunday,” he added.

In front of a relatively small gathering at the Spanish Town Prison Oval, both Portmore United and UWI showed that they will have to dip into the transfer market if they want to survive top-flight football following a poor display of the beautiful game.

Other than the dust on a windy evening, the game was a sight for sore eyes. Neither team, based on yesterday’s performance, appears ready to compete in the top flight.

Rodian Jennings (left) of Portmore United heads the ball ahead of Drainian Williams of UWI during their JFF Confederation Play-off match at the Spanish Town Prison Oval yesterday. The game ended 0-0. (PHOTO: KARL MCLARTY)