With the winner of the match assured of the crown, the final league match at the MSSA-Castrol Azad Maidan promised to be a crunch game. But a goalkeeping error from Chinai gave St Andrew's the crucial second goal in the 40th minute which turned their fortunes.

After both teams were locked 1-1 at half-time, Pereira's slight touch hit the foot of Chinai 'keeper Abner Fernandes before it rolled in, with the 'keeper unsighted by the sun and unaware of the ball's trajectory.

Pereira -- who had scored St Francis D'Assisi's winner in an under-12 Inter-schools competition in '92 -- slammed in the insurance goal with a right-footer from an acute angle in the 19th minute of the second half, this time leaving Fernandes with no chance.

The win gave St Andrew's nine full points with all wins while Chinai finished third after Mithibaipipped them on goal difference. Chinai had four points before the match and a win here would have given them the title while a draw would have given them second spot.

Benoy Tom Kuruvilla put Chinai ahead in the eighth minute thanks to a poor collection from Andrew's 'keeper Roque Barretto. But with Andrew's dominating, that lead looked in constant threat.

Surely enough, the equaliser came but not through a field goal. Akshay Rao's infringement in the box gave Andrew's a spot kick which Pereira converted.

St Andrew's coach Timothy Pereira would have liked a bigger victory margin but was happy enough with the win -- bettering last year's third place result.

Earlier, Mithibai beat Wilson 1-0 for their first win in the league and took second spot. Rajiv Ramnarayan scored his team's only goal in three matches.

League results (final day)

St Andrew's 3 (Clayton Pereira 3) bt Chinai 1 (Benoy Tom Kuruvilla); Mithibai 1 (Rajiv Ramnarayan) bt Wilson 0.