Village, Reno for Western Confed Super League clash
FALMOUTH, Trelawny — Former Premier League contenders Village United and Reno will meet at the Elliston Wakeland Centre today as the Jamaica Football Federation Captain’s Bakery and Grill/Charley’s JB Rums Western Confederation Super League continues with three games following Sunday’s kick-off.
The teams are two of four former Premier League teams taking part in the 12-team league, including defending champions Wadadah FC who were held 1-1 by Tomorrow’s People in the second game of the opening double-header at Jarrett Park on Sunday.
In the first game, Savannah SC, who played in the Premier League last season edged promoted Lucea FC 2-1 to take the early lead in the points tables.
Also today, Sandals Whitehouse of Westmoreland and Montego Bay Boys Club of St James will make their first ever appearance at this level.
Sandals, who are coached by former Reggae Boyz goalkeeper Aaron Lawrence, will travel to Montego Bay to face Norwood Strikers who are in their second season, in a game to be played at the UDC Field.
Boys Club will travel to the Sam Sharpe Teachers College where they will take on former champions Granville United in a St James derby.
Granville will be hoping for a better start than last year when they had to wait until their sixth game to get their first win and had just a point after five starts, but fought their way back to make it to the semi-finals.
On Sunday, Wadadah playing with four schoolboys in their starting 11 and without a number of the top senior players, gave up an early lead and had to settle for a draw against Tomorrow’s People.
National Under-17 player Tyshan Hill and three of his Spot Valley High teammates Oshane Forbes, Resean Brissett and Vially Donaldson were all starters for Wadadah.
Damion Reid scored from a mistake made by the Tomorrow’s People goalkeeper, veteran shot blocker Neil Lynch who dropped a ball from a looping shot from well outside the area.
Despite blocking the first shot from the rebound, Lynch could not stop the second shot from Reid in the 13th minute.
Tomorrow’s People, who are being coached by former national midfielder Hector Wright, clawed their way back and took over the game, but had to wait until the 55th minute to get the equaliser when Stephen Irving gave up a penalty kick, fouling Christopher Dyer inside the box.
Dyer dusted himself off to beat goalkeeper Tristan Bernard and give his team a share of the points.
Earlier Ron Daley scored twice within six minutes of either side of the half-time break as Savannah tasted victory for the first time in months after a difficult season in the Premier League.
Daley exploited a slow-starting Lucea FC that looked disorganised and unfit, scoring in the 41st and 47th minutes.
The Westmoreland team, however, eased up on their intensity and allowed Lucea FC back in the game and a penalty conversion in the 69th minute from Jermaine Pringle handed them a lifeline.