With the last kick of the game, Devon Hodges produced a wonderful free kick that propelled Rivoli United back to the Premier League with a 1-0 win over August Town in a dramatic game at the UWI Bowl yesterday.

Hodges curled his free kick past the hands of goalkeeper Deigo Haughton in the 94th minute sending the travelling Rivoli fans into ecstasy and back into top-flight football after a two-year absence.

The St Catherine-based outfit jumped to an unassailable 11 points, four more than second-placed August Town on seven with Wadadah moving into third on six points ahead of Volvo FC with four points after defeating the latter 1-0 at Drax Hall in the penultimate round.

With the game looking set to to end 0-0 draw, Rivoli United won a free kick just outside the 18-yard box, and even before the former national striker stepped up to kick, the Rivoli faithful were already celebrating with high-fives and hugs.

“I was very confident and my team had the confidence in me because they knew what I can do… and that gave me

more confidence. It was special,” Hodges told the Jamaica Observer.

It was a wonderful goal by Hodges but goalkeeper Haughton must take some of the blame for positioning behind his wall and left his left side unprotected which Hodges coolly exploited under the watchful eyes of national head coach, Theodore Whitmore.

“That goal was tremendous. I know it was the last kick of the game so the focus was to get this one in for my team,” Hodges added.

It was a game Rivoli deserved to win as they had the better of possession and always looked the more likely team to score.

Rivoli head coach Calvert Fitzgerald, who had a stint with August Town, was happy with the victory and the return to the Premier League following two demotions in the last seven years.

“It’s a very good feeling because every baller and coach aspire to be in the highest level in the land so I am extremely happy,” said Fitzgerald, while his players jumped and pranced in celebration.

“I didn’t think we played particularly well. I think the nerves of the situation affected us but we were the better team,” he noted.

While the red and black-clad Rivoli celebrated and posed for pictures, in contrast, August Town were left on their buttocks pondering what went wrong.

In fact, their sorrow actually started before the match when one of their ardent fans died in a car crash just outside the back gates of the UWI.

“Even before football, life is more important,” said head coach Christopher Bender. “We went into the game and we never deserved to win this game. Again there was no excuse and even in the spurts that we had, it wasn’t good enough… but we have our own destiny in our hands on Wednesday,” said Bender.

In midweek, Rivoli United will travel to Wadadah and August Town will host Volvo as the Jamaica Football Federation All-Island Confederation play-offs conclude with final round action.