FROME, Westmoreland — Former champions Reno FC’s relegation from the Red Stripe Premier League was confirmed yesterday after they were beaten 2-0 by Montego Bay United in their fourth-round game in driving rain at the Frome sports grounds yesterday.

Kemiro James and Omar Gordon scored for Montego Bay United, who improved to 49 points while Reno are stuck on 26 and will be playing Western Confederation Super League next season after just two seasons in the island’s top club competition.

In another early game at Lynch Park, Sporting Central Academy and Highgate drew 2-2.

Another team facing the drop, Village United, are down to play Arnett Gardens tonight at the Anthony Spaulding Sport Complex.

Yesterday’s loss was Reno’s 19th of the season, and after a solid start where they scored 15 points in the first round, the wheels came off the cart and they endured a brutal stretch where they got just two more wins, both against fellow strugglers Village United — once each in the second and third rounds.

Reno coach, Linval ‘Palla’ Wilson said it was a bitter pill to swallow for the proud Westmoreland club and said despite the scarcity of goals and points, they were confident they would have been able to pull it off and avoid the drop.

“It has been tough going,” he told the Jamaica Observer after the game yesterday. “The last few months have been tough for Reno,” Wilson added.

Wilson, who represented Reno in their glory days, said they were confident they would retain the nucleus of the team and would rebuild around them.

“We will use the time away from the Premier League to restructure the club and do it right this time,” he said. “We won’t fold and die, but we have dialogued with the players and we got their commitment that whatever the outcome was this season, they would be with us going forward and we are confident we will be back,” he said.

The game was played mostly in a steady rain and James gave the visitors an early lead just after four minutes, but they had to wait until the 80th minute to get a second goal and chalked up their second win in the fourth round after beating Village United last week.

Teams:

Reno FC — Marchris Richards, Orpheus McPherson, Linval Wilson, Renorio Downswell, Melvin Blair (David McKenzie-65th), Andrew Issacs, Jahshane Foster, OBrian Thompson, Anthony Britton, Danion Williams, Oshane McCarthy. Subs not used: Roal Andrews, Andre Loney, Alwayne Hilton, Alwayne Blair, Shevon Rose, Rodrick Williams.

Booked: None

Montego Bay United — Jacomeno Barrett (Neil Lynch-44th), Dwayne Ambusley, Richard Orrett, Kemiro James, Fabian McCarthy, Omar Gordon (Allan Ottey-64th), Rohan Bernard, Keneil Moodie, Mouracio Gordon, Keneil Kirlew, Donovan Carey. Subs not used: Troy Reid, Omar Gaynor, Fitzroy Campbell, Winston Wilkinson, Nicholas Stewart

Booked: None

Referee: Kevin Morrison

Assistants: Damion Williams, Oyinco McTaggart

Fourth Official: Ali McKenzie

Match Commissary: Copeland Bailey