WESTERN BUREAU:
THE OUTSTANDING game between Reno and Tivoli Gardens, which was postponed last month, will be played this afternoon, bringing to a close the first round of the Wray and Nephew National Premier League.
Today's game, which starts at 6:00 p.m., has no bearing on the top of the standings where end of first round finalists Arnett Gardens and Harbour View and third-placed Hazard are tied on 24 points apiece.
Tivoli could however move into fourth if they get the maximum three points.
Despite winning their past two games, Tivoli's road record shows just two wins from five tries and includes a 5-0 blanking of Bull Bay at Harbour View last week. Those five goals aside, the Geoffrey Maxwell-coached team has scored just four more goals in all of its other away games.
Maxwell will be hoping that they have momentum on their side so they can rack up their third straight win going into the second round on November 24 with a game away to Constant Spring.
Christopher Nicholas, who scored twice against Bull Bay, Roland Dean and captain Steve Green will be expected to lead the Tivoli goal hunt against a Reno defence that has given up just nine goals this season but will be without national goalkeeper Aaron Lawrence who is away on national duties.
Reno's coach, Linval 'Palla' Wilson, was critical of his strikers' form in their 1-1 draw with Wadadah at Jarrett Park at the weekend and has threatened "drastic decisions".
The Westmoreland team created most of the chances but missed all but one in a some times comical display. Playing at home today, Reno must put on a better show in a effort to earn win number three and to avoid dropping further down the standings.
Denzil Mitchell, Desmond Breakenridge and Andre Jarrett are expected to lead the Reno attack against a Tivoli defence that will be marshalled by Marco McDonald and Kasai Hinds.
