Portmore United's Roen Nelson (second right) celebrating one of his two goals against Village United at Ferdie Neita Park yesterday with teammates (from left) Ricardo Cousins, Damion Williams and Mario Swaby. Portmore won 2-1. - Ricardo Makyn

PROMOTED Rivoli, paced by a brace in five minutes from striker Devon Hodges, were the biggest movers in yesterday's round of Digicel Premier League (DPL) games, blanking Sporting Central 2-0 to jump from last to eighth place.

Sporting Central are now last on 11 points, as Rivoli rebounded from a midweek 3-0 trouncing at Waterhouse to leapfrog four teams, who either drew or lost games in tight quarters in the lower half of the standings.

Hodges struck in the 63rd and 68th minutes to move Rivoli to 13 points, the same as Reno, who lost 3-1 at Boys' Town but kept seventh place on goal difference.

Arnett Gardens came from behind to draw 1-1 at Waterhouse, Fabian Davis netting in the 70th minute to cancel Roberto Fletcher's 63rd- minute opener.

Mid-pack

Davis' goal moved Arnett to 12 points while Waterhouse stayed mid-pack, sixth on 19 points.

Rivoli also hopped past Village United, who lost 2-1 against defending champions Portmore United to stay on 12 points.

Portmore got both goals from hot Roen Nelson, who, similar to last season, has immediately impacted on his return from Joe Public in Trinidad and Tobago.

Nelson, who handed Portmore a 1-0 last-minute win over Arnett Gardens on Wednesday, opened the scoring in the 56th minute but saw his strike cancelled by Preston Corporal 10 minutes later.

However, the Portmore striker, who led the Trinidadian semi-pro league with most goals by a foreigner, struck again in the 71st to keep the defending champs fourth on 25 points, two behind third-place Boys' Town on 27 and one off second-place Tivoli with 28.

At Collie Smith Drive, Michael Campbell netted a goal in both halves to lead Boys' Town to a 3-1 win over Reno, keeping the Red Brigade third and within striking distance of the leaders.

Boys' Town led in the 31st minute when midfielder Campbell ran on to a pass from Garfield Gillespie, shielded the ball nicely from defender Oshane Foote, picked his spot well and buried a right-footer past goalie Oshane Lewis.

A stinging George Vernal free kick was too hot for Foote in the 33rd minute, slamming into the Reno keeper's hands before hitting the underside of the crossbar and falling for Peter Keys, who headed into goal for a 2-0 lead.

However, Reno pulled one back on the stroke of half-time when Obrian Woodbine's lob from the right side of the penalty box beat goalie Kirk Porter but not the crossbar. The rebound fell sweetly for striker Gary McIntosh, who booted in from inside the six-yard box.

Unlike the first half when both teams traded shots at goal, the game broke down after the restart as both teams went to their respective benches.

However, Campbell, who watched a 48th-minute shot whiz over Reno's crossbar, popped up on the right side of goal in the 75th to finish a good build-up.

Substitute Zico Herrera rolled a pass across goal for Vernal, who in turn laid off for Campbell on the right side of the box. The tricky Boys' Town midfielder dribbled two paces forward and unleashed a cracker from angle, giving Foote no chance from close range.

Boys' Town coach Andrew Price praised his team for netting three goals in successive games but said he was concerned about giving up a "soft" one in the first half.

Tighten defence

"We've been getting some goals but we need to tighten defence. We gave up a soft goal but if I can get three goals every game, I would be a happy man," he said.

The former St George's College and Boys' Town defender said it's all about keeping pace with the leaders.

"Our objective is to win as many points as possible to stay with the leaders and be ready to pounce if they falter," he said.

In the late game at Harbour View, the home team edged Meadhaven 1-0 with an 88th- minute strike from Marcelino Blackburn.

Yesterday's results

Harbour View 1 Meadhaven 0

Tivoli 0 St Georges 0

Boys' Town 3 Reno 1

Portmore 2 Village 1

Waterhouse 1 Arnett 1

Sporting Central 0 Rivoli 2