WESTERN BUREAU:
DEFENDING CHAMPIONS Portmore United will meet Reno at the Frome Sports Club in the lone Wray and Nephew National Premier League (NPL) second-round game today at 3:00.
The game is a rescheduled fixture as Portmore were off the island taking part in their two-way Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Club Championship semi-finals in Trinidad.
Both admit today's game will be crucial to their ambitions and will be going all out to ensure three points.
Reno have earned just three points since the start of the second round and that was awarded to them by the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) after their game against Seba on November 19 was called off with the scores tied at 2-2 with five minutes to go.
Reno's coach, Wendell Downswell, was not mincing his words when he told The Gleaner yesterday: "Right now we are desperate for a win."
Portmore United's coach, Lenworth Hyde, said his team also needed a victory, saying the fourth-placed team "needed the points to move closer to the leader".
Portmore are on 27 points and a win today would see them leap over Village and fall only a point behind joint leaders Waterhouse and Harbour View, both on 31.
A win for Reno would be equally rewarding and would move them from ninth to seventh, just seven outside of semi-final contention.
Despite losing their past three games, Downswell said the team was in a confident frame of mind going into the game, especially as it would be playing at home where it has notched up all four of its wins this year and 13 of its 17 points.
Downswell said the players were looking forward to the game "as the Reno players always rise to the occasion, especially against the big teams and we have had some good results against them."
Reno may have to make do without captain and goalkeeper Aaron Lawrence who is nursing a groin injury and if he fails to get the go ahead to play, national Under-23 invitee Damion Crooks will take his place.
Reno have included a number of players from daCosta Cup winners Frome Technical to bolster their team but the 'schoolers' may find the pace hot against Portmore.
Veterans Gregory Tape, Pete Campbell and Antholow Dawkins will be asked to carry the load for Reno.
Reno have had problems scoring goals and things won't get any easier against the league's best defence, which has conceded just eight goals in 15 matches.
Hyde's confidence stems from the fact that he thinks his team is playing well right now and, despite having scoring problems of their own, thinks it is only a matter of time before they get going in that department as well.
"The team is playing satisfactory ... up to par," he said yesterday. "We have outplayed most of our opponents but we are not scoring and that is a concern. We just have to keep working and we can't pressure the players and point fingers but we just have to keep working and hope for the best and hope we can turn it around for the next few games in the second round."
Veteran Oniel 'Chippy' McDonald, Kevin Deerr and Carlington Smith will lead the Portmore team in their goal hunt.
- PR
