The race for the final spot in the Jamaica Premier League playoffs as well as the second automatic semi-final spot will go down to next weekend’s final round of regular season games.

Goal-difference separates sixth place Tivoli Gardens and seventh placed Waterhouse FC, both on 55 points, after contrasting results in Sunday’s penultimate round of games.

At the other end of the table, two points separate second place Montego Bay United, on 75 points, and third place Arnett Gardens who are on 73 points, after both scored wins over Cavalier SC and Waterhouse respectively.

Tivoli Gardens slipped past Waterhouse into the sixth and final playoff spot after a 2-2 draw with Chapelton Maroons at the Anthony Spaulding Complex and would have been in a more comfortable position had they not given up an equaliser in time added.

Tivoli, who have lost once in their last 14 games, took the lead in the eighth minute through an own goal and was leading 2-0 in the 59th minute when Lennox Russell scored. Chapelton Maroons however did not give up and pulled a goal back in the 63rd minute through Dunstin Cohen and then got a valuable point when Oraine Miller scored four minutes into stoppage time.

Shai Smith scored two late goals, in the 82nd and 89th minutes, to keep Arnett Gardens in the race for second and dimmed Waterhouse FC’s hopes of a playoff spot as they won 2-0 at Drewsland stadium.

In Montego Bay, Jordain Fletcher’s 56th minute goal separated Montego Bay United and Cavalier, with the latter now having to resign themselves to playing in the quarterfinal round of the JPL playoffs.

Only 14 players suited up for Cavalier who were coming off a 2-1 win over Mt Pleasant FA on Thursday and are in fourth place on 66 points.
Dunbeholden FC and Harbour View bought themselves some breathing room in the relegation battle after wins over Portmore United and Vere United respectively.

Dunbeholden, who are on 37 points in ninth position, clipped fifth place Portmore United 1-0 thanks to Damion Binns’ 50th minute goal at Dunbeholden Community Centre.

Harbour View are a point and a place back after mauling relegated Vere United 6-0 at Harbour View; Timar Lewis scored a double, in the 22nd and 44th minutes, Trayvone Reid scored a third in the 60th minute and Loxley Reid, who came off the bench, scored to make the scores 4-0 in the 83rd minute. Kevoan McGregor made it 5-0 in the 89th minute before a defender’s goal rounded off the scoring.

Leaders Mt Pleasant made light work of Molynes United, winning 3-0 at Drax Hall as Odean Pennycooke scored in the 13th minute, Daniel Green scored his 13th goal of the season in the 51st minute and Emerson Laisse came off the bench to score his first of the season in the 61st minute.

In the other game played, Racing United came from a goal down to beat Humble Lion 2-1 at Ferdie Neita Park, snapping their four-game losing skid.

Stephen Barnett gave Humble Lion the lead in the 42nd minute and it appeared they were on their way to a win when Nickyle Ellis drew Racing United level in the 80th minute and Heron Headman scored the winner six minutes into time added.