Reno take slim lead into second-leg final
MONTEGO BAY, St James — Neither Reno FC’s Michael Graham nor Wadadah FC’s Daniel Ricketts thinks Reno’s lone goal from the first leg of the Jamaica Football Federation Captain’s Bakery and Grill Western Confederation’s Super League finals should be good enough to win the title.
Reno won last Sunday’s first leg 1-0 at Frome and the teams will meet again today in the return leg at Jarrett Park at 6:30 pm to decide the title and qualify for the Premier League play-offs.
Reno FC are bidding to return to the Premier League after one season in the Super League, while Wadadah have been out of the national spotlight for over a decade.
Graham told the Jamaica Observer that his team had gotten over Sunday’s win and were now focusing on today’s game. “Our mindset has shifted already and we are focusing on the second game; every game is different and we play every game to win,” he said.
“We can’t be banking on one goal, that is a very slim margin and not enough for comfort, we can’t be satisfied with that,” Graham said.
After scoring crucial wins at Jarrett Park this season, including one over Wadadah in the third round and over Granville in the semi-finals, Graham said the venue holds no fears for them. “Jarrett Park is a happy hunting ground for us, like a second home.”
The Montego Bay team is hoping the home crowd will come out and support them. Ricketts said, “We hope the Montego Bay football supporters come out to support the team, get behind us as we will need the support.”
Ricketts said he did not think his players were expected to go out on one goal over two legs. “We don’t think one goal should be enough with the players we have,” he said, before adding: “Talk won’t do it, we have to go out there and do what we have to do.”
He said the players were in a good mood, one of the best he has seen all season and that was a good sign.
Today, Reno need only a draw to win the title, but it was obvious Graham’s charges have other things in mind.
Wadadah have proved they can fight their way from behind, having beaten the favoured Tomorrow’s People on penalty kicks in the semis to get into a position to win their second Confederation title in four seasons.
Wadadah have not won a game in regulation time in their last four outings, including both semi-finals, but must come good today if they are to maintain their chances of returning to the Premier League.
Former national utility player O’Brian Woodbine, who scored on Sunday, is expected to lead the Reno charge, but Craig Foster and Denmark Gillings have combined for 13 goals and will provide the Wadadah defence with lots to think about.
After a slow start to the season, Wadadah FC stocked up on players in the January transfer windows and immediately boosted their stock as they went on a long win streak and made it to the mid-season finals where they were beaten by Tomorrow’s People.
Demar Dohman is the top scorer for Wadadah with six goals, but Andy Johnson, Levardo Whyte and midfielders Olivier Traile and Loxley Thomas are also capable of getting goals.