Nodley Wright, Freelance Writer

Downswell

Denied an opportunity, by warring factions on Wednesday to maintain their second place in the Wray and Nephew National Premier League, former champions Reno will go all out against Tivoli in their bid to sit as close to the top as possible.

In today's full schedule of games, the second such since the holidays, the Westmoreland-based club which play their matches in neighbouring St Elizabeth, entertain Tivoli Gardens at St. Elizabeth Technical in the top clash.

After bold predictions by coach Wendell Downswell that his team can win the League if given the required financial support, he knows that anything but a win would be a serious setback as Waterhouse, Harbour View and Portmore United all have favourable fixtures.

Take care of business

"The Tivoli/Reno fixture has always traditionally been a good game and, at this time, both are doing well and have ambitions of getting to the end of round final and even winning the competition, so this one should be no different. As far as we are concerned, though we have to take care of business," Downswell said of the game.

"It is even more important that we do well right now as we were in second position but have now slipped to third because of what happened with our game on Wednesday. A ruling will be made on that game soon, but we have to control what is in our hands by winning," added Downswell who has an unbeaten home record to protect and a first round to avenge.

In Kendrie Quarrie, Ricardo Scott, Kirk Wright, Nyron Davis, Fabian Blake, Kevon Grant and goalkeeper Dwayne Kerr, Reno have enough quality to beat any team on their day. If they show up in the right mood then Tivoli Gardens could be in for trouble. Brian Rose, manager of Tivoli Gardens is fully aware of what lies ahead.

Some absences

"I expect a keenly-contested game. Both teams are doing extremely well. Reno are doing very well for the first time in many years so I am sure they would want to keep their good run going which would mean that we would have to step up our game," Rose said.

That improved performance will have to come without the services of the suspended Christopher Jackson, Wednesday's goalscorer Jermaine Taylor who picked up an injury as well as long-term casualties Edsel Scott and Leon Gordon.

While those absences will hurt the team, Tivoli Gardens still have the quality and experience of Fabian Davis, Kasai Hinds, Victor Thompson, Roland Dean and Orane Simpson to count on.

While still short of fitness, Christopher Nicholas should be able to contribute off the bench.