'We showed a lot of character' - Graham pleased as Reno rally to upstage MBUFC

WESTERN BUREAU:

Former national champions, Reno FC, gave Montego Bay United FC (MBUFC) a lesson in guts and determination on Sunday, when they rallied back from two goals down to snatch a 3-2 win in their Red Stripe Premier League fixture at the Montego Bay Sports Complex in St James.

Reno's win, their third of the season, had a musical touch to it as two of the goals were scored by House of Leeds recording artiste Ajay 'J-Yungg' Richards. Delano Rankine got the other goal for Reno. Mouracio Gordon and Leon Irving (penalty) netted the goals for MBUFC.

"We showed a lot of character coming from two goals down to win. Today was the first time we got three goals in a game this season," said Reno's coach Michael Graham, whose team moved up to 14 points.

"We are really delighted that we got maximum three points today because we are coming off five consecutive draws," he added.

For the MBUFC outfit, which was tasting defeat for the seventh time this season, their coach, Brazilian Neider Dos Santos, was left bemoaning the fact that his team, which remains stuck on seven points, is not match fit.

"The team does not have the fitness to fit the system I want them to play ... the sharpness is just not there," said Dos Santos, who joined MoBay United just over two weeks ago. "I understand the team did not have a proper preseason programme and, in addition, we are lacking in experience."

In the opening minutes, the MBUFC had Reno on the run, and it was no surprise when they took the lead in the seventh minute. Gordon broke free on the left side of the goal area, turned sharply inside and fired wide of goalkeeper Dennis Taylor, making the score 1-0.

Lost penalty

With Reno struggling to come to grips with the slick movement by MBUFC, they gave away a penalty in the 23rd minute when goalkeeper Taylor fouled Gordon. Irving made no mistake from the penalty spot, making the score 2-0.

Towards the end of the half, MBUFC began to show signs of fatigue and just moments before the break Reno caught them on a counter-attack and the alert Richards netted to make the half-time score 2-1.

Reno equalised in the 56th minute when a series of slick passes from midfield had the MoBay defence in tatters and the ball, which rebounded into the path of Rankine, was powered home, making the score 2-2.

The Westmoreland team got the winning goal in the 69th minute when Richards raced on to a free kick from the left flank and fired home easily, making the final score 3-2.

Summary of Red Stripe Premier League football matches played on Sunday:

Harbour View 2 Village United 0 at Harbour View Stadium

GOALS: Harbour View - Fabian Taylor 38th, Joel Senior 87th

Boys' Town 2 Humble Lion 2 at Collie Smith Drive

GOALS: Boys' Town - Wayne Ellis 51st, Nicholas McMorris 90+4; Humble Lion - Carlington Smith 19th, Denzil Watson 77th

Tivoli Gardens 1 Highgate United 1 at Edward Seaga Sports Complex

GOALS: Tivoli - Navion Boyd - 31st; Highgate - Dennis Neish 21st

Montego Bay United FC 2 Reno FC 3 at Montego Bay Sports Complex

GOALS: Montego Bay - Mauricio Gordon 7th, Leon Irving 23rd; Reno - Ajay Richards 45+1, 68th, Delano Rankine 56th

Arnett Gardens 1 Portmore United 0 at Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex

GOAL: Arnett - Vanado Manning 90th

Waterhouse 2 Sporting Central Academy 0 at Waterhouse Stadium

GOALS: Waterhouse - Adrian King 81st, Kemal Malcolm 86th

Standings

Next fixtures - Sunday, November 13

Village United vs Portmore United at Trelawny Stadium

Sporting Central vs Harbour View at Brancourt

Humble Lion vs Waterhouse at Effortville Community Centre

Highgate United vs Boys' Town at Lynch Park

Reno vs Tivoli Gardens at Frome Sports Complex

Arnett Gardens vs Montego Bay United at Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex