CATHERINE HALL, St James — Former champions Reno FC overcame a 0-2 deficit after 23 minutes on Sunday to outscore Montego Bay United 3-2 with a stunning comeback in their Red Stripe Premier League game at the Montego Bay Sports Complex.

Reno were scoring their third win of the first round and second in a western derby with all their victories coming away from their Frome home ground, and they climbed into seventh place on 14 points, trailing Harbour View on goal difference.

Ajay Richards scored twice, first at the end of the first half to cut MoBay United’s deficit, and then he found the winner in the 69th minute, while Delano Rankine had equalised for the Westmoreland club in the 56th minute.

Mouracio Gordon had given the home team the lead after seven minutes, while a penalty conversion in the 23rd minute by Leon Irving had given them the lead.

Despite what must have been a crushing defeat, MoBay United’s coach Neider dos Santos said they will take the result in stride. “I am here to work,” he told the Observer, before admitting the team was not fit enough to play at a high level for a full 90 minutes, especially with too many inexperienced players.

The Brazillian, who has been on the job one full week, also said the absence of midfielders also cost them as “we had only one midfield change on the bench”, Jermaine Woolery, who replaced an ailing Irving at half-time.

Wendell Downswell, the technical director for the Reno team, told the Observer the half-time adjustments were what made the difference. “The players showed character,” he said of the Reno team. “We did not lose composure even while trailing.”

Downswell said they had played “too deep” in the first half, allowing the Montego Bay United players “too much time and space, and once we cut that down, we got the advantage”.

After scoring more than one goal in a game for the first time this season, in 23 minutes, the Montego Bay United team appeared well set for their third win and a chance to move closer to safety from the relegation zone.

Gordon gave them the lead when he collected a ball served diagonally from the right side, dribbled into the area before beating goalkeeper Dennis Taylor to the far side of the goal.

Reno went further behind when Gordon was brought down in the area by Taylor and Irving powered home the spot kick.

Reno had several chances to pull one back but missed a spate of easy chances. The Montego Bay United goalkeeper Garen Downie, who was celebrating a call up to the national team, blocked a point blank shot in the 35th minute and two minutes later Rankine missed three chances from inside the six-yard box, when his weak efforts were blocked by a defender and went for a corner.

Richards eventually pulled one back for Reno two minutes into time added when he lifted the ball over the head of the custodian and into the goal.

Reno came out in the second half more aggressive and reaped dividends early in the half when Rankine scored with a well-placed shot from about 23 yards.

The Reno comeback was completed when Richards turned in a corner from the left side.

Both teams had chances to add to their tallies, as Reno hit the crossbar in the 73rd, while Adrian Robinson hit the Reno bar with a free kick as time ran out.

Teams: Montego Bay United — Keneil Moodie, Garen Downie, Mario Samuels (Troy Reid 71st), Fabian McCarthy, Adrian Robinson, Leon Irving (Jermaine Woolery 46th), Omar Christie, Oraine Braham, Mouracio Gordon, Curtis Palmer (Allan Ottey 64th), Rohan Bernard

Subs not used: N Lynch, A Anderson, A Thomas, W Wilkinson

Booked: Bernard (68th)

Reno FC — Dennis Taylor, David McKenzie (Shashamarley Barrett 84th), Omar Dallas, Desmond Montique, Linval Wilson, Nicoli Finlayson, Norman Woolery (Evan Taylor 74th), Delano Rankine, Ajay Richards, Omar Johnson, Davian Thorpe (Delroy Phillips 88th)

Subs not used: R Downswell, D Clayton, G Cooper, O McTaggart

Booked: D Taylor (22nd), Woolery (74th), Montique (76th)

Referee: Kevin Morrison

Assistant Referees: Kedlee Powell, Melvin Reid

Fourth Official: Dwight Royal

Match Commissary: Tracey Reid