Nine points from Reno

Despite not performing at the level expected from a demanding coach Paul ‘Tegat’ Davis on Wednesday night, Montego Bay United are back atop the Red Stripe Premier League tables after cruising to a 2-1 win over FC Reno at the Montego Bay Sports Complex, beating the Westmoreland team a third straight time this season.

Tegat was less than happy with the performance but among the few positives the coach must be happy for were goals from Allan Ottey and Jermaine Woozencroft, both of who missed significant playing time this season with injuries.

The goals from Ottey and Woozencroft would have also pleased national senior team coach Winfried Schafer who was in the stands and who has included both in national teams this season.

We are now back on top of the tables with 48 points, two more than champions Arnett Gardens with Portmore United on 43 points and Humble Lion holding on to the final semi-final spot with 35 points.

We were out of the gate fast on a cool night and should have taken the lead as early as the fifth minute but Ottey who has been playing himself back into shape, beat goalkeeper Devaughn Hawthorne with a rasping shot from the left flank the flew into the far corner in the 8^th minute.

Owayne ‘Turtle’ Gordon missed good scoring chance in the 21^st minute after a good individual work from Ottey who dribbled from the half line, got by two defenders and set up his team mate with an inch perfect pass. Gordon was however unable to pull the trigger.

As he did in the second round game, also played at the Sports Complex, Hawthorne pulled off some good saves to keep his team in the game and had one in the 23^rd minute when he blocked a shot from Gordon at his left post that had goal written all over it.

Woozie had the better of Hawthorne in the 45^th minute when he got the ball over the head of the goalkeeper and high into the net to give us a 2-0 lead going into the break.

FC Reno had some adjustments in the second half with three early changes but we were still able to get into scoring positions but with no more success.

Late in time added on FC Reno got a consolation when John Barrett inadvertently scrambled the ball over his own goal line in a melee.