Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter

Tivoli Gardens' Kevin Blackford (second right) shields the ball from Harbour View's Rafiek Thomas (right) while Oneil Smith (left) looks on, in National Premier League action at the Edward Seaga Stadium yesterday. Tivoli won 2-0. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer

IN A cruel twist of fate, struggling St Georges struck in time added on to deny August Town three valuable points in a National Premier League relegation battle at Lynch Park yesterday.

For 90-plus minutes, last-place August Town, who took the lead through Jermaine Simpson in the 21st minute, looked to be headed out of Portland with full points from the encounter, which would have kept them alive and well in the battle for top-flight survival.

However, Ricardo Watson landed a major blow to those hopes when he struck one minute into stoppage time with a crucial goal for St Georges, who are also fighting for their survival.

On-pitch skirmish

Both teams were reduced to 10 men when St Georges' Damion Harewood and August Town's Rohan McDonald were sent off for an on-pitch skirmish. August Town remain rooted to the bottom of the table on 35 points, while St Georges are a precarious 10th on 40. The cellar dwellers did, however, make up some ground on Reno, who are second from the bottom on 37 points.

Reno were kept waiting after Seba failed to show up for their fixture at STETHS. The Montego Bay team cited transportation issues to be the problem. The Jamaica Football Federation's competitions committee is expected to hold a meeting to look into the issue tomorrow.

At Brancourt, Sporting Central Academy came from behind twice to play to a 2-2 draw with Boys' Town. The Red Brigade got an own goal in the fourth minute after the ball went into the Sporting Central goal area from a corner kick and was fumbled around before going past Sporting Central custodian Erron Brown.

Hughan Grey levelled things for the home team in the 26th minute, after he picked up the ball on the edge of the area and strode into the box to fire a cracker past Boys' Town custodian Kirk Porter. Garfield Gillespie put Boys' Town back ahead in the 38th minute, but substitute Damali Samuels found the equaliser for Sporting Central in the 84th minute, putting away a cross from Grey.

Valuable point

At the Elliston Wakeland Centre, Arnett Gardens gained a valuable point and continued to drift away from the danger zone after a 0-0 draw with an already safe Village United.

"We came for a point and we got it." was the assessment of Arnett coach, Jerome Waite. There are two games left and we'll take it from there."

Village had more chances and, at least four times, Arnett's 'keeper, Julian McLeish, had to pull off brilliant saves, twice hurting himself in the process and bringing the game to a halt.

While Village's chances were prevented, by and large, because of McLeish, Arnett's chances went awry because of poor shooting. The usually deadly marksmanship of Kevin Wilson and Cornel Chin-Sue was woefully poor.

Must-win situation

In a must-win situation at the Edward Seaga Stadium, Tivoli Gardens kept their mathematical possibilities of winning the title alive with a 2-0 win over dethroned champions Harbour View.

A well-taken freekick by Jermaine Allen saw the West Kingston team take the lead in the 30th minute and Jermaine Taylor headed them further in front in the 42nd.

However, at press time last night, Portmore United were well on their way to wrapping up the title after leading Waterhouse 3-0 late in the second half.