Portmore United are all but relegated from top flight football after slumping to a 0-2 defeat to Waterhouse FC at Ferdie Neita Park in the penultimate round of the Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) yesterday.

Waterhouse’s goals came from Damarley Samuels in the 32nd minute and substitute Steve Broderick in the 87th.

Despite the result, the run of play was largely even, though both teams’ passing accuracy and ball control were hindered on an uneven, sparsely grassed Ferdie Neita surface.

Like they have done for most of what has been a miserable campaign, the hosts Portmore looked decent when in possession of the ball, but lacked precision in and around the opponents’ penalty box.

Already crowned the preliminary stage winners and the most feared team heading into the semi-finals, the win put Waterhouse on 62 points.

The 11th-placed Portmore, the national champions two seasons ago, have now lost three games in a row, mustering a dismal 33 points from 32 outings. Their only hope of not joining cellar team August Town FC in lower tier football now rests on an unlikely combination of events.

The wasteful Portmore outfit would need to beat Humble Lion FC, who are safe in ninth, and hope that semi-finalists Arnett Gardens FC have the firepower and drive to defeat Trench Town neighbours Boys’ Town (35 points) in Sunday’s final round of preliminary games.

The wasteful Portmore outfit would need to beat Humble Lion FC, who are safe in ninth, and hope that semi-finalists Arnett Gardens FC have the firepower and drive to defeat Trench Town neighbours Boys’ Town (35 points) in Sunday’s final round of preliminary games.

Portmore United’s head coach Calvin Lewis was far from optimistic that his team could pull off the miraculous.

“From inception we have been struggling to score goals and again we missed chances,” he told the Jamaica Observer.

“We are just going to honour our fixtures because I don’t think Arnett is going to beat Boys’ Town in that last game.”

His counterpart at Waterhouse, Anthony Patrick, said he wants to maintain the winning momentum going into the semis.

Teams: Portmore United — Gariece McPherson, Rosario Harriott, Rickcardo Harriott, Adrian Reid, Damion Binns, Andrew Vanzie, Nickoy Christian (Roberto Johnson 76th), Paul Wilson (Ewan Grandison 66th), Ricardo Morris, Stephen Williams, Suelae McCalla (Rodian Jennings 51st)

Subs not used: Donan Atkinson, Kereen Manning, Mark Alves, Patrick Brown.

Booked: None

Waterhouse — Kelso Cousins, Nicholi Finlayson, Kimorlie Brissett, Ramone Howell, Damarley Samuels, Hughan Gray, Kenroy Howell, Rohan Amos (Vinroy Hayles 78th), Romario Campbell (Steve Broderick 72nd), Juvaune Benjamin, Marvin Morgan (Ricardo Henry 83rd)

Subs not used: Rashawn Patterson, Omar Walcott, Weston Forrest, Kemar Brown

Booked: Campbell (49th), Finlayson (64th)

Referee: Kevin Morrison

Assistant Referees: Nicholas Anderson, Fayonette Jones

Fourth Official: Wilverglen Lamey

Match Commissary: Anthony GibbsRSPL results yesterday (home team named first)

August Town 0, Arnett Gardens 6

Boys’ Town 1, Humble Lion 1

Harbour View 1, Montego Bay United 1

Portmore United 0, Waterhouse 2

Sporting Central 0, Rivoli United 1

Tivoli Gardens 2, Cavalier 0