Ainsley Walters, Freelance Writer

Meadhaven United forward David Reid (centre) attempts to elude two York players in the National Premier League play-offs at the Constant Spring Complex yesterday. Meadhaven won the game 1-0. - Winston Sill

STRIKER Leighton Neita scored easily from 12 yards in the 37th minute yesterday to hand Meadhaven United a 1-0 win over York of St Thomas, extending the Kingstonians' unbeaten run to three games in the Premier League qualification series.

In Montego Bay, Rivoli revived their hopes with a 3-0 whipping of homesters Wadadah, who are yet to earn a point in three games and sit at the bottom of the four-team table with the first of two rounds completed.

Marlon Edwards opened the scoring against Wadadah with a 36th-minute penalty before Devon Hodges netted a double in the 55th and 90th.

Rivoli's win moved them to six points, three adrift Meadhaven, who outscored them 3-2 at the Rio Cobre Field last Wednesday.

York remained on three points following yesterday's loss, getting their only win at Wadadah, 1-0 on Wednesday.

Meadhaven got their winning goal in the first half off a rapid counter-attacking move started by Lennox Creary, who went on a big solo run down the middle of the field before drifting to the left flank where he skipped a tackle from Michael Clarke before exchanging passes with Neita racing into the area.

Creary's final pass to Neita found the striker unmarked in front of goal and the pencil-thin striker made no mistake with Donald Atkinson rushing off his line in an attempt to block the shot.

Meadhaven had the better of play for most of the match, the first half of which ended in a drizzle.

York's best attempts were long-range free kicks taken by Charles Williams in either half, his first shot on goal coming after 33 minutes.

The visiting strikers were no match for Meadhaven's defence, manned by Robert Palmer and the hard-tackling Dwayne Williams.

Goalkeeper Andrew Gibson was hardly called into action throughout the second-half, holding on to Jermaine Miller's high shot shortly after the break. Tested by Williams from a free kick just outside the box in the 61st, Gibson spilled the shot but recovered to thwart Mervin Miller rushing in for the rebound.

Meadhaven coach Lijyasu Simms was already looking forward to travelling to Wadadah this Wednesday for their return match-up after beating the Montegonians 2-1 at home.

"Three more points put us on the way but we're not there as yet," he said.

"We're going back to the drawing board to go down to Montego Bay for three more."

Meanwhile, York's Patrick Barclay said his team's chances of qualifying were dented by the loss.

"It would reduce our chances but we're still in there," he said. "It's never over until the last game. Play-offs are unique and we may see different scenarios."

Wadadah's Jeremy Bucknor (left) tests his speed against a partially hidden Rivoli United defender in yesterday's National Premier League play-off fixture between the two teams at the UDC playing field in Montego Bay. Rivoli won the game 3-0. - Adrian Frater