Front-runners Reno, Meadows aiming to remain ahead of rivals

Robert Bailey, Gleaner Writer

Fresh from their opening wins on Wednesday, Digicel Premier League aspirants Reno and Meadows will be hoping to consolidate their positions in the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) four-team Confederation play-offs when they oppose Benfica and Cavalier, respectively, today.

Reno, who are aiming to return to the island's premier football competition, this after they were demoted last season, will travel to Drax Hall in St Ann to face Benfica. Cavalier will host Meadows at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex in Arnett Gardens. Both matches kick off at 3:30 p.m.

The Wendell Downswell-coached Reno, who were winners of the Western Confederation Super League, are still bubbling with confidence, following their 2-0 home win against Cavalier.

Downswell, who is a former national coach, said despite playing away from home he is confident his team can secure all three points.

positive outlook

"We just have to be very positive because playing away from home is always going to be a very tough assignment for us," said Downswell. "I think that they are a formidable team because I have watched them play and they seem to have a good all-round unit.

"However, we are extremely confident, based on the level of preparation that we have undergone coming into this stage of the competition."

He added: "We are looking forward to a win because getting a win will put us in good stead to qualify for the Premier League, and it will also help to ease some of the pressure off my team."

Tremaine Perry and Sheldon Bryan, who scored both goals for Reno in their win over Cavalier, are expected to lead the Westmoreland-based team's charge, along with national representatives Davian Thorpe and Evan Taylor.

On the other hand, Benfica were beaten 2-0 by Meadows in their opening match and, according to their coach Rohan Alexander, they have to "go in with an attacking formation so we can go out and get the result, we can't let Reno or Meadows get away from us".

"I think that we have a good team and I believe that once the players stay disciplined and focused we should we able to win this game," Alexander added.

a humdinger

Meanwhile, the Cavalier- Meadows encounter is expected to be a humdinger. However, Meadows, who are the South Central Super League winners, will enter the match very confident, following their comfortable 2-0 win over Benfica and, according to their coach Christopher Russell, they will be going all out for all three points.

"We will be looking for three points. For us to achieve our objective we have to take three points from them at their home to have any chance of qualifying for the Premier League," said Russell.

Cavalier, the champions of the KSAFA Super League, suffered a big setback in their quest to qualify when they were beaten 2-0 by Reno. David Laylor, player/coach of Cavalier, said his team will come out firing today.

"We had a loss against Reno but we have to put that behind us, knowing that going forward we have to be winning other games, so we will be going all out to win," Laylor said.