Reno taste defeat for the first time
PITFOUR, St James — Despite a gallant second half comeback from a 2-0 deficit after just 15 minutes, leaders Reno FC suffered their first loss of the season on Wednesday, going down 3-2 to Granville United in their first-round Jamaica Football Federation’s Captain’s Bakery and Grill/Charleys JB Rum Western Confederation Super League game played at Pitfour.
An 89th-minute free kick from Oneil Pringle unlocked the tie and gave Granville their first win over the Westmoreland team after two goals from Craig Foster appeared to have secured a point for Reno FC.
Defending champions Wadadah’s meanwhile, rebounded with a big 4-2 beating of Norwood Strikers in their St James derby at the UDC field, while Holland United failed to capitalise on Reno’s loss after being held, 1-1 by Montego Bay Boys’ Club in Falmouth.
Despite the loss, Reno FC still leads the tables with 13 points, one more than Holland United and Savannah SC, who edged Village United 1-0 to score back-to-back wins for the first time this season after beating Norwood Strikers 1-0 on Sunday.
Granville United, Boys’ Club and Sandals WhiteHouse are all tied on nine points, followed by Wadadah FC and Tomorrow’s People on eight, a point ahead of Norwood Strikers who were losing successive games for the first time this season. Duanvale FC and Village United are on four points each while Lucea FC are at the bottom with two points.
At Pitfour, on Wednesday, Damion Reid in the 12th minute and Lavardo Whyte, who scored on his debut for Granville after transferring from Wadadah FC during the FIFA transfer window, shot the home team into the lead after just 15 minutes as they capitalised on errors made by Reno players.
Reid intercepted a pass just on the edge of the Reno area, took two strides before beating goalkeeper Marchris Richards with a powerful well directed shot.
Three minutes later, a shot from Whyte on the left side deflected off a Reno defender and beat Richards on its way into the goal.
Reno managed to pull one goal back for Reno, but Pringle’s free kick, aided by a mistake from goalkeeper Richards, however, saw the home team retake the lead a minute before full time and pick up their second win in six games.
