Hamilton Parish's hopes of First Division survival were knocked inside out in a soccer horror show at St. David's yesterday.

St. David's striker Jerry Laws defied a hamstring injury to all but condemn them to the Second Division.

His second-half goal was just rewards for a typically gutsy run, which saw him power through Parish's defence.

And just four minutes later substitute Eugene Crockwell sealed Parish's fate with a lucky strike.

The ball ricocheted off him in the six-yard area, before striking the inside of the post.

Goalkeeper George Fox booted the ball away, but the linesman ruled it had already crossed the goal line.

Parish's First Division survival now rests on them winning their remaining three matches.

They must also hope St. George's and St. David's share the points in their March 21 clash, and come to grief in their remaining fixtures. And even then they need to have a better goal difference.

Yesterday's two-goal margin was just about right in a scrappy encounter that offered scant entertainment.

For the first 45 minutes both teams seemed bereft of ideas, imagination, and skill.

It was a spectacle that had many observers shaking their heads in disbelief.

Perhaps there was too much at stake, with both sides desperately seeking maximum points.

Parish's striker Ernest Lathan had a whiff of goal as early as the fourth minute, but his feeble shot from 12 yards out was easily gathered by George O'Brien.

It was a sign of things to come, with neither side carving out a meaningful opening.

The best moment came in the dying seconds of the first half when Parish's energetic midfielder Walton Burgess unleashed a 30-yard shot, which O'Brien could only palm away.

Irving Burgess, following up, miscued the ball from six yards, sending it past O'Brien's right post. He should have done better.

The script was much the same after the restart until Laws' 65th-minute strike.

As well as easing St. David's relegation fears, it was just the pep the game needed.

Laws did well to remain on his feet as he battled down the left flank past three Parish players and lofted the ball over the advancing Fox.

The goal, however, worsened his hamstring injury, and he had to leave the field.

Crockwell's controversial goal soon afterwards brought cries of relief from St. David's fans.

There was a noticeable spring in the step now of St. David's players, and they should have added to their tally.

Particularly in the 72nd minute when Wesley Furbert careered down the right wing and sent a low ball across Parish's goalmouth.

Crockwell seemed odds-on to score, but somehow the ball squirmed off him and past the left post.

Parish's main threat in the second half came from some spirited runs by Sinclair Gibbons.

St. David's: G.O'Brien; A.Lugo, G.Swainson, W.Smith, S.Hollis, A.Darrell, E.Smith (E.Crockwell, 43 mins), R.Pitcher, J.Laws (G.Dill, 65 mins), C.Richardson, W.Furbert.

Hamilton Parish: G.Fox, Q.Outerbridge (A.Outerbridge, 72 mins), J.Nicol, Z.Stowe, F.Simons, I.Burgess, W.Burgess, K.Simons, P.Webb, E.Lathan (S.Gibbons, 69 mins), A.Darrell.

Referee: Gregory Grimes.

Men of the match: Wesley Furbert (St. David's); Sinclair Gibbons (Hamilton Parish).