DRAX HALL, St Ann — Reno FC of Westmoreland secured three more valuable points in their quest for a spot in the 2010-2011 Digicel Premier League with a 1-0 win over home team Benfica FC at Drax Hall, St Ann on Sunday before an estimated 1,300 fans.

The Western Confed Super League champs were made to fight all the way by their hard-running Eastern Confed counterparts, who set the pace form the first whistle, as they rushed into every play, winning most in the first half hour through the speedy Derron Jackson and Craig Gordon, who kept Reno on the defensive.

However, in the 33rd minute, as was the case in their match against Cavalier last Wednesday, Reno’s goalkeeper Dennis Taylor executed a long kick up-field that brother Evan headed forward, which was chased by Craig Foster and the Benfica trio of Roger Knight, captain Everton Palmer and custodian Rauel Wilson, which resulted in all four ending in a tangle and the ball loose in front of the goal, where Sheldon Bryan slotted home.

It was a case of contrasting styles played out in cool, dry sunny conditions, as Benfica utilised short, snappy passes, while Reno opted for long, overlapping passes, executed with ease and accuracy mainly by Evan Taylor and Craig Foster.

The first real chance came in the 23rd minute when Bryan latched on to a through pass down the middle, but with only Wilson to beat, booted the ball unto the advancing ‘keeper to earn a corner.

The next 10 minutes saw Gordon leading the attack for Benfica with crosses from the right that fell to Brian Wollaston, whose shot was blocked by a defender, while Rushaine Henry’s effort deflected off another and unto the crossbar.

Reno lost goalkeeper Taylor in the 53rd minute after he collided with an attacker while airborne, sustaining a cut inside his mouth that required a few stitches to close the wound at the St Ann’s Bay Hospital, where he was recuperating up to press time.

The second half saw Benfica creating more chances but both teams failed to add to the scoreline, even as FIFA referee Lewin Purser issued Derron Jackson with the game’s only caution in the 67th minute.

A beaming and confident coach Wendell Downswell assessed his unbeaten team’s position, thus: “We played sloppy at times today, the surface may have contributed to it, but the win puts us in good stead and Wednesday (May 26) at Frome (against Meadows FC) should see an improved performance.”

“Our performance was up to par but shooting let us down,” lamented losing coach Gary Robinson.

Meanwhile late yesterday the Jamaica Football Federation issued a release noting that Wednesday’s fixture in the NPL play-off has been postponed to a date to be determined, due to the continuing instability in the country.