Defending champions Accra Hearts of Oak refused to play the last league match of the season on Wednesday, but they had taken an unassailable lead several weeks earlier and could afford that luxury.

Hearts, who play Lobi Stars of Nigeria on Sunday in their Africa Clubs Cup match in Accra, said they could not raise a team on Wednesday because of a tall injury list.

However, the Football Association rejected the excuse and ordered them to honour their match against Dawu Stars.

With the top two spots settled for Hearts and Goldfields who ended the season with 57 points and 52 points respectively, the battle was at the bottom where several teams struggled to avoid relegation.

In the end, Brong Ahafo United was firmly rooted to the bottom with 27 points while former campaigners for African honours, Dwarfs, joined with only 34 points.

Power FC, which is third from bottom, will play the third team in the Middle League in a play-off to determine who joins the elite league.

Interestingly, bottom club Brong Ahafo United, who had been assured of relegation, beat Dwarfs 2-1 in the final match to drag them along into the first division.

The sucker winner in the 89th minute through substitute Mamouda Mohammed sent Dwarfs players crying.

Earlier, centre forward Matthew Attiogbe had opened the scoring for Dwarfs in the 48th minute, but United's Abdulai Seidu cancelled this in the 63rd minute.

Accra Great Olympics who boosted their chances of scaping relegation with a 2-1 win over Hearts in the penultimate match, made sure of safety when they drew 1-1 with Power FC.

The draw gave Power the lifeline to participate in the play-off.

Olympics scored first in the 41st minute through Michael Asante.

Nathan Quarshie drew level in the 53rd minute through Moses Amoako.

At Tamale, Real Tamale United (RTU) secured the maximum three points with a 1-0 victory over Ghapoha.

RTU scored the only goal in the 34th minute through Abase Iddrisu.

At Tema, Liberty Professionals humbled Goldfields by a lone goal scored in the 35 minute by Robert Akorsah.

The following are the full results: Liberty (1) Goldfields (0) Olympics (1) Power (1) Kotoko (2) Hasaacas (1) RTU (1) Ghapoha (0) B. A. United (2) Dwarfs (1)

Final league table:

Hearts 57 pts
Goldfields 52
King Faisal 46
Kotoko 41
Liberty Professionals 43
Okwahu United 41
Real Tamale United 41
Bofoakwa 40
Ghapoha 40
Hasaacas 38
Kwaebibrem 38
Olympics 37
Dawu 36
Power FC 35
Dwarfs 34
B.A.United 27