Reno and Cavalier held at home

Ryon Jones, Gleaner Writer

Reno took another step towards returning to top-flight football action after notching their seventh point in the Jamaica Football Federation four-team Confederation play-offs series, following a 2-2 draw with Meadows yesterday at Frome Sports Complex.

Reno, who lead the play-offs series for two places in next season's Digicel Premier League by three points, took the lead twice, first through Sheldon Bryan and then Omar Dallas in the 25th and 34th minutes, respectively.

Meadows, however hit back through Jason Vassell in the 32nd and 77th minutes to secure their fourth point of the competition.

In the day's other match, which was played at UWI Bowl, Mona, Benfica gained their first point of the play-offs after coming-from-behind twice to earn a 2-2 draw with Cavalier, who sit in second place on four points by virtue of goal difference.

Total domination

Cavalier totally dominated the first half and created numerous chances before taking the lead in the 32nd minute through Locksley Thompson, who found himself unmarked in the six-yard box and easily turned in a pass from Robert Coley.

The KSAFA champions continued to squander chances in the second half and were made to pay in the 75th minute when Craig Gordon took advantage of a deflected header from Cavalier's defender David Laylor before cracking an unstoppable shot into the roof of the goal.

Cavalier soon re-establish their lead when Thompson got the better of Benfica's keeper, Donnovan Hynes, from the penalty spot in the 81st minute after Donovan Alvaranga was bundled over just inside the area. Benfica were, however, not to be denied and grabbed a share of the points a minute later through Brian Wollaston who scored with a tremendous 35-yard free kick.

Cavalier's coach, Lamar Morgan, blamed faulty finishing for the result.

"I think we could have defended much better in the second half and we got numerous chances and didn't put them away, so faulty shooting cost us the game today again," said Morgan.

"Finally, we are on the road and we get a point, I most appreciate that and the team fought and they fought well," said Benfica's president Tyrone Rose.

'I most appreciate that and the team fought and they fought well,' said Benefica's president Tyrone Roach.