'Chippy' nets deserved winner for Boys' Town
published: Monday | March 10, 2008
Richard Bryan, Freelance Reporter
Oniel 'Chippy' McDonald underlined his skill as one of the more experienced strikers in the league, providing an expertly crafted late winner as Boys' Town continued its march into the top end of the Cash Plus Premier League following a gutsy 2-1 win over Reno at St Elizabeth Technical High School in Santa Cruz.
From a team which meandered in the mid tier for the first two rounds, the Red Brigade from famed Collie Smith Drive have garnered 42 points, displacing Harbour View from the top four and have now developed ambitions to actually challenge for the league title, according to coach Andrew Price.
"That's the intention now," a confident Price told The Gleaner after achieving his first win over Reno all season. "The team made a commitment at the start of the third round and we are beginning to see signs. There has been a lot of effort and some good football too."
Boys' Town's win only magnified Reno's problems and it will take some doing to get them back on track.
Repeated crosses
Boys' Town came running at them, pinning them in their half as crosses came in repeatedly for main striker Denzil Watson. After a few failed tries, the dreadlocked Watson, made one count, this time sneaking in from the far side to volley home Xavian Virgo's cross as the Reno players appealed unsuccessfully for offside. Watson would, throughout the course of the match, miss enough easy chances that would probably have given him a hat-trick.
The one-nil lead at half-time mirrored Boys' Town's territorial advantage but Reno would fire back through a series of determined attacking moves on the resumption. Draion McNain's dribbling created problems and he was duly awarded a penalty for being cut down in the box. A calm Nyron Davis scored to equalise, but Reno were never out of the woods and despite weathering a constant barrage of attacks from Boys' Town's younger strikers, they paid the price for not paying attention to substitute McDonald who got the winner nine minutes from time.
A concerned Downswell blamed the loss on a lapse in concentration, but promised his team would continue to fight to lift itself from the relegation zone as they remained second from bottom on 27 points.
"We did well to come back. It was just tough luck and a lapse in concentration."
