Harbour View's Jermaine Hue skips away from a challenge by August Town's Raymond Williamson in the Digicel Premier League at the UWI Bowl yesterday. August Town won the game 2-1. - Ian Allen

Harbour View surrendered the Digicel Premier League top spot following a 1-2 loss to surging August Town, which was good enough for defending champions Tivoli Gardens to move into the lead on goal difference with a 4-0 win over Sporting Central.

Striker Kavin Bryan gave the Stars of the East the lead in the 48th minute, after collecting a Jermaine Hue through pass, but Daniel Shaw brought things level with a 66th minute strike.

Harbour View's keeper, Dwayne Miller, was adjudged to have committed a six-second violation, resulting in an indirect free kick being issued to August Town on the edge of the 18-yard box. The ball was rolled off to Shaw whose powerful drive rocketed into the back of the net.

empty-handed

In a cruel twist of fate August Town were awarded a penalty in the 90th minute and left the vistors empty-handed, after their custodian Devon Haughton booted home from the spot.

Harbour View coach Donovan Hayles blamed the loss on his team's carelessness.

"We controlled possession of the ball but I think we were lackadaisical, we weren't moving the ball as quickly as we wanted to," said Hayles.

"We gave up two goals that were unforced errors and it cost us," he added.

At Brancourt, Tivoli Gardens had a field day as they easily dismissed Sporting Central. Dane Kelly's 50th minute header gave Tivoli the lead and Jameel Thompson doubled the score with a strike 17 minutes later. However, it was striker Roland Dean, who has spent a good part of the season out injured, who put the issue beyond doubt, coming on as substitute to net a 81st and 84th minute brace. Sporting had, however, faced an uphill battle following the dismissal of Gregory Lewis in the 59th minute. Tivoli and Harbour View are currently tied on 51 points.

full advantage

Third-place Waterhouse and fourth-place Boys' Town failed to take full advantage of Harbour View's slip up as they were both held to draws. The Red Brigade were unable to break through at the Effortville Community Centre as they were held 0-0 by Humble Lions, while Waterhouse played their way to a 2-2 draw with St Georges at Lynch Park.

At the Spanish Town Prison Oval, Arnett Gardens picked up crucial points ahead of a heated relegation battle, following a 1-0 win over Rivoli. A 20th-minute strike by Newton Sterling from just inside the area made the points safe for The Junglists, who defended stoutly for the entire second period. Rivoli were playing without talismanic striker Devon Hodges who is away on trial in the United States.

In the late encounter at Ferdie Nieta Park, Village beat Portmore 1-0.

Harbour View's Romario Campbell attempts to shrug off a challenge from August Town's Raymond Williamson in the Digicel Premier League at the UWI Bowl yesterday. August Town won the game 2-1. - Ian Allen