HIGHWAY suffered heartache in their maiden Premier League season as they were relegated on Sunday, a day after Gunners claimed their first premiership crown in only their second season.

The Shepherd Muradzikwa-coached Highway needed to beat fellow strugglers Bantu Rovers to preserve their league status but they went down 3-0 in Bulawayo.

The Mutare club joined Underhill, who beat Hwange 2-1, and Black Rhinos, who lost 4-2 to Highlanders, in Division One.

Sundowns, 1-0 winners over Eagles in Gwanda, finished 13th and will now have to defend their league status in a play-off against Eastern Region Division One runners-up Masvingo United, Northern Region’s second finishers Douglas Warriors and the losers of the Shabanie Mine v Zimbabwe Saints/Quelaton match in the Southern Region.

Never Musvipa scored the crucial goal as Sundowns avoided automatic relegation, but Eagles cried foul immediately after the match, arguing that Sundowns had used an unregistered player. Details of Eagles' complaint were not immediately available.

Dynamos secured second after beating Shooting Stars 3-1 and are guaranteed continental football next season. Phillip Marufu opened the floodgates before Limited Chikafa levelled things for Stars.

Cuthbert Malajila then scored his 19th of the season to restore Dynamos' lead before substitute Evans Gwekwerere made the score more emphatic late on.

Party time ... Gunners players with the Premier League Trophy

CAPS United finished third, while Highlanders were the biggest movers as they climbed over Hwange, Lengthens and Shooting Stars to finish fourth.

Bantu Rovers had cried foul after a Harare referee was assigned for their match, but Thabani Moyo steadied their nerves with a well-taken header after just six minutes.

Graham Ncube made it 2-0 late on before picking up a second yellow for time wasting. Rovers’ league status was secure as the final whistle approached when Blessing Nyokanhete won and converted a penalty.

Motor Action, who drew a staggering 16 games, also eased their relegation worries with a battling 2-1 win over CAPS United.

Highlanders’ Egyptian coach Mohammed Fathy had set his team a target of finishing in the top five, and they achieved just that with results from other matches going their way.

The Egyptian watched as Chipo Tsodzo scored twice with a header, before Stephen Alimenda and Nqobile Mpala also registered to end the season on a high.

Fat cheque ... Gunners are presented with the cash prize

On Saturday, champions Gunners beat Lengthens 2-1 at Rufaro before claiming the Premier League trophy and a US$35,000 winners’ cheque from sponsors, the Commercial Bank of Zimbabwe.

Norman Maroto grabbed his 18th league goal, and Nathan Ziwini weighed in with a second to cancel out Norman Machapa’s strike for Lengthens.

Gunners coach Moses Chunga paid tribute to their small but noisy vuvuzela-blowing supporters who have been part of the club’s fairytale run in the league.

“They stood by us from the first day of the season,” Chunga said. “They stood by us through thick and thin and we deserved the title because we worked tirelessly throughout the season.”

Premier Soccer League Results
Saturday
Gunners 2-1 Lengthens

Sunday
Black Rhinos 2-4 Highlanders; Bantu Rovers 3-0 Highway; Motor Action 2-1 CAPS United; Dynamos 3-1 Shooting Stars; Sundowns 1-0 Eagles; Underhill 2-1 Hwange; Kiglon 1-3 Monomotapa

Premier Soccer League: Tuesday, November 24, 2009