Tie draws Bender comparison to Hyde

Richard Bryan, Gleaner Writer

Humble Lion clawed their way back to earn a 1-1 draw against Reno in their Digicel Premier League (DPL) clash at their Effortville home yesterday, but far more clearer were signs that the fans want more from what had been envisioned as a potent combination of Lenworth Hyde Sr and Max Straw.

Humble Lion remained strangled next to bottom place on 12 points, following their sixth draw of the season, and fifth in nine games since Hyde took over from former coach, Christopher Bender, who was relieved after five games.

With just two wins, including one at home against higher-positioned Benfica, both the goals and points have come in a trickle, feeding frustration for the very vocal community-based crowd.

In fact, Bender's name interestingly surfaced as an awkward comparison, especially during the half-time interval, when some fans were overheard arguing whether the change to Hyde had yielded any significant difference.

Hyde certainly heard some of those viewpoints and intimated he was having a difficult time trying to improve the Clarendon team.

'Toughest job'

"Definitely, it's my toughest job," was his frank admission in post-match comments.

However, he is motivated by the challenge and has faith better results will come.

"This can show how good a coach or a motivator you are and that's why I love this challenge. We just have to work and come out of this situation. By the end of he second round you will see a turnaround."

The seeds for that kind of fiery dialogue were sown from as early as the sixth minute, when Reno were allowed to penetrate the belly of Lion's defensive third, with little-known Kenroy Hutchinson inflicting early damage by beating Damion Crooks - who was having his first try in goal - with a low shot.

The home side was able to resist any more breach, but the equaliser they hoped for did not come until the hour mark when, from an Errol Wilkie corner, Ricardo Campbell was able to manufacture - almost by sheer luck - a sliced shot that parachuted over everyone, including goalkeeper Dennis Taylor, to finish in the back of the net.

The draw for the home side was an improvement over the 0-2 loss suffered away in Westmoreland in the first round. Reno inched up to 16 points, but still remained in eighth place.