It was a mixed bag for Portmore United’s Head Coach Philip Williams and his counterpart Damion Gordon of Waterhouse after both handed Dunbeholden a look-in as far as play-off contention is concerned, following a 1-1 stalemate in an entertaining Jamaica Premier League (JPL) encounter at Ferdie Neita Park in St Catherine on Sunday.

Emelio Rousseau’s own-goal gave Waterhouse a 32nd-minute lead which was later cancelled out by Alex Marshall’s 56th-minute strike that secured Portmore United a share of the spoils.

The result, coupled with the fact that Waterhouse was deducted the three points they claimed off Cavalier last week for using an ineligible player, means that the race for the last two play-off spots remain up in the air.

Despite the point, Waterhouse slipped to seventh on 38 points, with Portmore United eighth on 37 points.

This has Dunbeholden FC, who entered Sunday’s penultimate match day on 35 points and a healthy goal difference, overtook both Waterhouse and Portmore United, to grab hold of sixth position on 38 points, following a 7-1 hammering of relegated Chapelton Maroons in the feature game of a double-header at Ashenheim Stadium.

Meanwhile, fifth-placed Humble Lion (41 points) also played out a 1-1 stalemate with third-place Mount Pleasant (46 points).

By virtue of that, all four teams – Portmore United, Humble Lion, Dunbeholden FC and Waterhouse FC – are faced with must-win situations heading into the final match day scheduled for May 7.

At that time, Portmore United will be up against Molynes United, Dunbeholden FC against Mount Pleasant, while Waterhouse and Humble Lion will lock horns.

Williams is well aware of the equation which explains his disappointment that his team couldn’t secure all three points at home.

“Based on the points table, it’s a setback because we were looking for three points today playing at home and the amount of possession that we had in the second half, I think we did enough to get the three points but unfortunately it didn’t happen, but the way the team played was a positive for us,” Williams told journalists in a post-game interview.

“Mathematically, we still have a chance so definitely we have to approach that game positively; Molynes is a good team that can beat any team in the league on any given day, so it’s a game that we have to come good in, it being our last chance at securing a top six position,” he added.

Waterhouse’s Gordon, who has been at the helm in Marcel Gayle’s absence, also tried to put on a brave face.

“It’s not the result we are hoping for, but we are away from home and so we have to give thanks for a point, we could have won but that’s football,” Gordon said. “Irrespective of the points standing and what happened in the board room, we still have a game to play and that last game for us will be a home game, so we just have to use it to good advantage and deliver.”

Both teams started the game at a decent tempo and displayed good brand of football at times, which made them threatening in open play.

It was Portmore United who had the first good look at goal in the 14th minute when a tidy build-up ended with Alvinus Myers floating a weighted cross inside that found Marshall, whose effort on his weaker right foot was kept out by Kemar Foster in goal for Waterhouse.

Waterhouse, however, found the go-ahead goal when hapless Rousseau deflected Andre Fletcher’s weighted corner kick past his own goalie Benjamin Williams.

The score remained unchanged at the break and both teams again came out lively on the resumption with Waterhouse’s Devroy Grey testing Williams two minutes in.

Portmore responded soon after when Lamar Walker’s wicked through pass sent Chevaughn Walsh in behind defenders, but the towering striker’s left-footer was easily gathered by Foster.

The host eventually pulled level as poor defending allowed Marshall a clear path to goal and for sure the former St George’s College talisman made no mistakes from close range.

From there, it was end-to-end action with both teams throwing their weight in attack, asking questions of their respective custodians to which they got some brilliant replies.

In the 70th Williams took flight in an acrobatic save to parry Ramone Howell’s stinging right-footer from deep inside the 18-yard box.

Four minutes later, Walker again picked out Marshall, whose well-struck shot was equally well-saved by Foster, who reacted quickly to also keep out Jevick McFarlane’s follow-up effort at goalmouth.

As the game got heated, Waterhouse lost Elvis Wilson to a straight red card for a reckless challenge on Walker in the final minute of time added.