University of the West Indies (UWI) FC confirmed their Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) play-off spot following a 2-0 win over Dunbeholden FC at Royal Lakes Complex yesterday.

After trailing for most of the way, the university side eventually made the points safe through strikes from substitute Stephen Barnett (73rd) and Ryan Miller, with an 83rd-minute penalty.

The win propelled UWI to fifth position on 46 points, as they slipped from the attention of seventh-place Tivoli Gardens (39 points), who went down 2-4 to second-place Waterhouse (59 points) at Edward Seaga Sports Complex.

Despite the loss, 10th-place Dunbeholden FC (33 points) could still avoid relegation, as their pursuer Montego Bay United (30 points) picked up a 5-1 beating from leaders Portmore United (63 points), who secured the $1-million bonus for amassing the most points in the three rounds of the league.

Elsewhere, third-place Mount Pleasant FA (57 points) clipped Arnett Gardens 1-0, relegating them to sixth position on 45 points.

Eighth-place Humble Lion (35 points) and fourth-place Cavalier FC (51 points) played out a 1-1 stalemate; so too did ninth-place Harbour View (35 points) and the already relegated Reno FC (23 points).

At Royal Lakes Dunbeholden FC started promisingly, and had a grand opportunity to open the scoring from the penalty spot in the 18th minute when a free kick by Demario Phillips was handled in the wall by Miller.

But DeAndre Thomas’s weak effort was thwarted by the outstretched right leg of Amal Knight.

That would be the only clear chance of the goalless first half as both teams failed to make the most of possession and lacked conviction in the final third.

However, Dunbeholden again looked more purposeful on the resumption and showed real enterprise in breaching the opponents’ defence on numerous occasions — but poor decision-making proved their undoing.

They were made to pay for their wastefulness when Barnett arrived in time to tap home a loose ball after Fabion McCarthy’s effort from a distance was fumbled by custodian Eric Edwards.

And the points were made safe 10 minutes later when Barnett’s attempted cross was handled inside the area by Kevin Reid and Miller stepped up to calmly convert.

Teams: Dunbeholden FC — Eric Edwards, Dasha Satchwell, DeanAndre Thomas (Gavin Roberts 80th), Lorenzo Dubidad, Richard Anderson (Dwayne Smith 73rd), Kevin Reid, Shaquille Dyer, Shevon James, Nickoy Christian, Anthony Thompson, Demario Phillips (Racheem Small 84th)

Subs not used: Maurice Mais, Demarley Oliver, Giovanni Smith, Graeme Green

Booked: Small (90th)

UWI FC — Amal Knight, Deno Schaffe, Jerondy Henry (Dawyne Smith 64th), Andrae Bernal (Stephen Barnett 16th), Ryan Miller (Davion Garrison 84th), Akeem Thenstead, Fabion McCarthy, Kemar Flemmings, Kareem Manning, Ramoun Reid, Michael Heaven

Subs not used: Nicholas King, Kemoy Atkinson, Taniel McKenzie, Rochane Smith

Booked: Miller (18th), McCarthy (53rd)

Referee: Kevin Morrison

Assistant referees: Joshua Jackson, Korey Denton

Fourth official: Okeito Nicholson

Match commissary: Lincoln Small

Yesterday’s results

Mount Pleasant FA 1, Arnett Gardens 0

Humble Lion 1, Cavalier FC 1

Dunbeholden FC 0, UWI FC 2

Tivoli Gardens 2, Waterhouse 4

Montego Bay United 1, Portmore United 5

Harbour View 1, Reno FC 1