Reno battle Tomorrow’s People for mid-season trophy
FROME, Westmoreland — Reno FC and Tomorrow’s People will clash today at the Frome Sports Grounds in the mid-season final of the Jamaica Football Federation Captain’s Bakery and Grill Western Confederation Super League starting at 3:00 pm.
The mid-season title is the one title that no team wants to win, however, as for the last five seasons, the winner has never won the overall title.
Tomorrow’s People are in back-to-back mid-season finals after beating eventual champions Wadadah FC 3-2 at Jarrett Park.
The previous season Wadadah FC had beaten Savannah SC in the mid-season final, but it was the latter that went on to win the overall title and a place in the Red Stripe Premier League.
A season earlier, 2010-2011, it was Wadadah FC that had won the mid-season title, beating Seba United who eventually won the overall title and also qualified for the Premier League. They then changed their name to Montego Bay United.
In addition to enjoying homeground advantage, Reno FC have a psychological edge over Tomorrow’s People after beating them 2-0 early in the season.
Despite picking up just one point from their last two games, Reno topped the standing with 23 points from their 11 games, two more than Tomorrow’s People, who edged Savannah SC on goal difference after both ended on 21 points.
Promoted Sandals White House are in fourth place on 19 points followed by Granville United, 17 points, Wadadah FC and Holland United, 16 points each, Village United, 11 points, Lucea FC and Norwood Strikers, eight points each, and Duanvale FC, seven points.
Both teams will go into today’s game without having won on the field in their last two games. Reno were held 0-0 by defending champions Wadadah FC on Sunday after losing their previous game to Savannah SC.
Tomorrow’s People were awarded points after Holland United showed up without their gear on Sunday after playing out a 0-0 draw with Granville the previous round.
Both teams have combined for 54 goals and are expected to be ready for the game, however, but Reno FC will go into the game with the psychological advantage after beating Tomorrow’s People 2-0 in their meeting in the second round.
With the exception of their 0-0 draw at Granville, Tomorrow’s People have been on a goalscoring tear with 17 goals coming in their previous four games, more than any other team over the period.
The consistent Donville Cornwall will lead Tomorrow’s People, with nine goals so far, tied with Reno’s Denmark Gillings.
The newly acquired Curtis Palmer will give Tomorrow’s People some depth in their attack.
Craig Foster, Delano Rankine and Junior Neil will be Gillings’ strike partners for Reno FC, as they seek the first trophy of the season and a boost for the second round that is set to get underway next week.
The game will be play-to-finish and if the game is tied at the end of regulation 90 minutes, two periods of extra time will be played and if the scores are still tied the teams will go to penalty kicks.