Reno eye mid-season final
FROME, Westmoreland — Leaders Reno FC will have an eye on qualifying for the mid-season finals of the Jamaica Football Federation Captain’s Bakery and Grill/Charley’s JB Rum Western Confederation Super League today when they take on Holland United in a first-round game at the Frome SportComplex, set to start at 3:00 pm.
Reno FC lead with 19 points, four more than defending champions Wadadah FC and promoted Sandals Whitehouse and with two more games to go after today’s round, are in control of the race for a place in the consolation play-offs.
Five other teams , separated by two points, are also in the race for the midseason place and will all be hoping for wins today to help their causes.
Wadadah FC, Sandals Whitehouse, last season’s mid-season champions Tomorrow’s People, Savannah SC and Holland United are also strong candidates for the February 9 final.
Sandals White House have won their last four games and play Village United today; Wadadah FC and Tomorrow’s People have won three straight and hosts Granville United and Norwood Strikers, respectively, both St James derbies.
Today, Reno FC return to their home ground where they have not lost in 12 games stretching back to last season, winning nine times and drawing twice. So far this season they have won all three games played there without conceding a goal, but will face a Holland team smarting from their first loss, but who have scored 14 goals, tied for third best in the league.
A second straight loss could also knock Holland out of contention for a place in the mid-season final, and they will expect Romaine Lewis, Stephan Bramwell and Ronique Haynes to help them beat Reno FC for the first time after two losses last season.
Confederation Super League games between Wadadah FC and Granville United have been marked by low scoring, with the champions winning their only meeting last year 1-0.
Wadadah’s form and their improved roster will give them the edge today, as they go after a fourth-straight win. Granville have not managed two wins in a row all season and have just one win in their last six outings, a big home 3-2 win over Reno FC.
Sandals Whitehouse have clawed their way off the bottom of the table and are the form team in the league and should have the better of a sputtering Village United team that was beaten 4-1 by Tomorrow’s People on Sunday, their fifth loss in eight games.
Tomorrow’s People beat Norwood in both games last season by an aggregate 6-0 margin and should make it three straight over their St James club that has not won since the start of the year. Savannah SC, the only unbeaten team left in the competition, will hope to keep their hopes of a place in the mid-season play-offs alive when they travel to Duanvale.
Games today
•Duanvale vs Savannah at Duanvale Play Field
•Wadadah vs Granville at UDC Reno vs Holland Utd at Frome Sports Ground
•Tomorrow’s People vs Norwood Strikers at Jarrett Park
•Lucea vs Montego Bay Boys’ Club at Rusea’s
•Sandals Whitehouse vs Village Utd at Crocs Land Play Ground