Adrian Frater, News Editor
BLAKE...scored Reno's opening goal. - FILE
WESTERN BUREAU:
RENO NOTCHED their first win in the second round of the 2005-06 Wray & Nephew National Premier League football competition yesterday afternoon when goals by Ricardo Scott (two) and Fabian Blake carried them to an emphatic 3-0 win over Rivoli United at the Frome Sports Ground in Westmoreland.
By virtue of their win, the Bradley Stewart coached Reno team has now strengthened their position in mid-table, jumping to 16 points while the struggling Rivoli aggregation remained locked three places from the bottom on 12 points.
"We played a lot of the younger players today because we realised we needed more energy, especially in midfield, and it worked out for us," said the victorious coach Stewart. "In addition, we had the pitch rolled today and it made the playing surface much easier to handle."
In the early stages of the game, both teams traded good attacks but fell prey to faulty finishing. Reno wasted a golden opportunity in the sixth minute when Scott fired just wide from close range after breaking free before the goal.
Rivoli missed a glorious chance in the 29th minute when Devon Hodges' close range header flew just wide of the target.
BETTER ACTION
With time ticking away in the half and Reno having the better of the action, they took the lead in the 41st minute. The wily Kevon Grant floated a superb pass into the path of Blake, whose pin-point header gave the goalkeeper no chance, making the score 1-0.
Four minutes later, Reno doubled their lead with a brilliant strike by Scott. He controlled a lofted cross elegantly on his chest, turned sweetly on the edge of the penalty area and fired a savage shot into the roof of the net, making the half-time score 2-0.
The second half started with Reno dominating the action and forcing back the Rivoli team with all-out attack. They should have increased their lead in the 55th minute but after pouncing on a bouncing ball before the goal, Omar Johnson nodded over the crossbar.
Rivoli got their best chance of the half in the 75th minute when an overlapping Barrington Planter found himself with space before the Reno goal but his cracking shot was brilliantly saved by Kingsley James in goal for the Reno team.
With Rivoli battling hard to get back into the game, Reno slammed the door in their face in the 77th minute with another superb strike by Scott. He again controlled beautifully on the edge of the area and then unleashed a savage volley, which crashed into the goal, making the final score 3-0.
GOALSHEET
Reno 3
Ricardo Scott 45th, 77th, Fabian Blake 41st
Rivoli 0
