Adrian Frater, News Editor

DOWNSWELL

Western Bureau:

Reno, behind two goals from Kirk Wright and another from substitute Ricardo Scott, fought off a determined challenge by Seba United to register a thrilling 3-2 win in their 2006-07 Wray & Nephew National Premier League western derby at Jarrett Park, Montego Bay, on Sunday night.

The win, Reno's fourth of the season, lifted them to 14 points, firmly placed in the upper half of the 12-team standings. The Seba United team, which scored through the veteran Theodore Whitmore and Ricardo Geddes, was left hovering over the relegation zone on nine points.

"This was a most exciting game and as far as I am concerned football was the winner," said Reno's coach Wendell Downswell. "It was a game in which we did not lose our composure, even when we fell behind and this shows the character of the team."

The game started with Seba United enjoying the better of the early action. However, an early missed chance by Kemar James prevented them from taking the lead.

After missing a good opportunity when he had a close-range grounder blocked by goalkeeper Loxley Reid, Wright fired Reno into the lead in the 20th minute. A neat pass by Nicholi Findlayson dropped at his feet and he fired in off the upright, making the half-time score 1-0.

Second-half play

In second half play, Seba began to roll back into contention with Whitmore dominating the midfield play with darting runs and slick passes. He found the equaliser in the 61st minute when he pounced on a sharply taken free kick by Iton Scott and fired home powerfully, making the score 1-1.

With both teams trading excellent attacks, Seba took the lead in the 73rd minute with a brilliant strike. Wilfred Smith knocked a neat pass to Geddes just outside the penalty area. His shot with the outside of his foot swerved away from goalkeeper Dwayne Kerr and struck the roof of the net, making the score 2-1.

Seba's joy was short-lived as Reno pulled level in the 80th minute. Goalkeeper Reid was slow in leaving his line for a cross and the speedy Scott, who was lurking near the penalty area, pounced on a lofted cross and nodded home powerfully, making the score 2-2.

Reno struck again in the 83rd minute. On a dribble down the right flank, the overlapping Omar Johnson crossed perfectly to Wright, who fired past the helpless goalkeeper Reid, making the final score 3-2.

"Our main weakness remains our inability to convert the many chances we are creating each game," said Seba United's assistant coach Heron Grey. "This is a game we should have won but we ended up without even a point."

Reno 3

Kirk Wright 2, Ricardo Scott

Seba 2

Theodore Whitmore, Ricardo Geddes