Paul-Andre Walker, Staff Reporter
Hayles....We have to just keep our cool.
AFTER LOSING 2-1 to Reno at the Harbour View Mini-Stadium in the Wray and Nephew National Premier League on Sunday night, Harbour View's coach Donovan Hayles says it's still not time yet to hit the panic button, even if their fans have.
A state of pandemonium ensued in front of the Harbour View dressing room after Sunday night's loss, as fans hurled disparaging remarks at the team that could do no wrong only weeks earlier.
PROPHECY
However, Hayles stood a figure of composure in the midst of the madness and prophesised that his team would still win the league, even after giving up the lead for the first time this season.
"We have to just keep our cool. That's the important thing. This is the first time that we have relinquished the lead, so we can't panic at all," said Hayles.
"I still believe that we can win this premier league. It just needs to be a collective effort and we are going to work hard to bring home the competition," he added.
After leading 1-0 in the first-half of a competitive game, Harbour View were made to pay for costly errors.
Lovel Palmer, the scorer of a 33rd minute penalty, was made to hang his head in the second half after he missed a second penalty that would have given his team a 2-0 lead.
Things got worse as Marcelino Blackburn was given a red card for a second bookable offence from referee Hughill Thompson.
Dwayne Williams then equalised from the penalty spot in the 58th minute to put all the pressure squarely on the then league leaders.
When Ricardo Scott drove home a shot after being put through on goal, the Harbour View parade seemed over.
"After we were leading we went down to 10 men and we missed a penalty that would have taken us two clear goals ahead, that put some pressure on us," said Hayles, adding that Reno had played well.
Another very important aspect to the game was the fact that Reno gave themselves some breathing space, just above the relegation zone and a chasing Constant Spring unit.
POINTS DIFFERENCE
After drawing 0-0 with Constant Spring last week, they needed to find a win from a big team to make things difficult for the Spring unit, who were just five points adrift.
That points difference is now seven, and Reno just might have made sure they extend their stay in the country's premier football competition.
"We have been working on few things and with the inclusion of a few national players we decided that we need to win this game. I spoke to the players and they basically said they would go out there and win this one," said Reno's coach Eaton Bruce.
