Reno back – Westmoreland outfit joins newcomers Benfica in DPL
Reno made a speedy return to premier league football after a one-year hiatus, routing Meadows 4-1 at the Spanish Town Prison Oval yesterday.
Westmoreland’s Reno, a former three-time Premier League champion, finished atop of the Jamaica Football Federation All-Island Confederation Play-offs’ standings with 10 points, and will be joined in top-flight football by St Ann outfit Benfica who finished second, also on 10 points.
Urban champion Cavalier who started the day in front on eight points finished third ahead of St Catherine’s Meadows on five.
Reno, who were relegated after last season, fell behind after Kenroy White gave the home team Meadows a 17th-minute lead.
But Reno responded swiftly as Kenroy Hutchinson fired home in the 19th minute to silence the home fans who were still celebrating their goal.
Former National Under-20 midfielder Evan Taylor, who also earned a senior cap, put Reno in front in the 26th minute as the half ended 2-1.
Reno then sealed their win after benefiting from two howlers from Meadows’ goalkeeper Damion Herrera, who must have idolised England’s custodian Robert Green.
Firstly Herrera attempted to block a left-sided cross but only succeeded in handing Sheldon Bryan the easiest of tap ins in the 52nd minute.
Herrera then missed a high ball which fell under his feet and allowed Trimene Perry to roll the ball into an empty net in the 68th minute.
That goal signalled the quickest exit seen at the prison Oval by the Meadows supporters followed by some verbal abuse to the team and even the St Catherine Football Association president Peter Reid.
Winning coach Wendell Downswell said he thought his team’s relegation last season was a blessing in disguise as it allowed them time to refocus on a lot of things.
Said Downswell: “We got an opportunity to see where we went wrong because over the years we were struggling, struggling to avoid relegation. We looked at the whole structure.”
“Commendation must be given to the players for the commitment and perseverance despite the adversities they have faced especially at home when we lost to Benfica,” he added.
