PHC stayed in the title race with both points from this scrappy match at Southampton Oval as Hotels slipped back into the thick of the relegation battle.

To make matters worse for Hotels they will be without two of their key players for their final three matches, following the bad injury suffered by Coolridge Bell, who was taken to hospital in the first half with a gashed thigh, and the sending-off of Derek Scott late in the match.

Bell was discharged from hospital later yesterday afternoon.

Hotels' ranks are already badly depleted with just two substitutes on the bench yesterday. Stevie Dickinson and Don Lewis were both listed as subs but were absent.

The Zebras hardly looked championship contenders, though there were early indications that they might romp to another big win over their opponents after leading 2-1 with just 11 minutes gone.

The first goal came after just three minutes as Kenny Mills scored from the penalty spot after Derek Scott fouled Winston Trott, Jr.

Despite the setback Hotels bounced right back and scored the equaliser within two minutes when a shot from the left side of the penalty area by lanky striker Randy Boyles found the far corner of Carlyle Crockwell's goal despite the 'keeper getting his hands to the ball.

Scott had his name taken in the ninth minute for dissent and that would prove costly for the full-back as he got his marching orders in the 81st minute for a foul on Raynel Lightbourne.

PHC regained the early lead in the 11th minute from a Sammy Swan header as Darrell was left well out of position by an Ottis Steede left-wing corner.

Both 'keepers made important saves after that as Crockwell dove at the feet of Coolridge Bell in the 19th minute to block his shot.

At the other end Darrell redeemed himself by coming off his line to deny Trott in the 21st minute.

Darrell made another important save from a Trott shot in the 24th minute, tipped a hard drive over the bar after Lightbourne made the running.

The briefly threatening to get out of hand pattern of the match changed after that as both teams suffered injuries to key players. It started in the 26th minute when Bell got the worse of a collision with Crockwell after being put through by full-back Chris Sabir.

Referee Esten Curtis took one look at Bell's gashed thigh and without hesitation called for the stretcher. Some eight minutes were lost while Bell received treatment before being taken to hospital. Troy Bassett eventually replaced him.

Soon after the restart Scott hit Sammy Swan with a bad challenge which left him with a bruised shoulder. Swan was eventually replaced by Blake Simons.

Then five minutes into injury time Boyles made a late challenge on Crockwell and both players needed treatment. Five more minutes were lost by that incident as Boyles, the first on his feet, was shown the yellow card for the foul.

PHC opened a two-goal lead in the 55th minute when Lightbourne scored from close range after the ball had been pulled back across goal by Mills.

But Hotels, for their refusal to give in, were rewarded with their second goal in the 71st minute when Eugene Simmons scored from close range following a corner on the right.

PHC protected their slim lead and might have scored a fourth right in the last minute when Mills' shot hit the post and then bounced off the diving Darrell before going out for a corner.

Hotels: R.Darrell; C.Sabir, D.Bell, P.Smith, D.Scott; E.Simmons, M.Piper, C.Robinson; C.Bell (T.Bassett, 34 mins), R.Boyles, C.Anderson.

PHC: C.Crockwell; N.Simons, M.Wade, M.Dill, D.Outerbridge; O.Steede, D.Rawlins (D.O'Brien, 70 mins), K.Mills; S.Swan (B.Simons, 44 mins), R.Lightbourne, W.Trott.

Referee: Esten Curtis.

Men of the match: Myron Piper (Hotels); Kenny Mills (PHC).