Adrian Frater, News Editor
WESTERN BUREAU:
IN A game characterised by a spate of missed chances, Reno and Boys' Town failed in their quest to improve their standing in the 2005-06 Wray and Nephew National Premier League football competition yesterday afternoon when they played to a 0-0 draw at Frome in Westmoreland.
The teams, which went into the game locked on identical 16 points from 14 games, remained tied in mid-table, moving up by one point each.
Reno, by virtue of a superior goal difference are in seventh place.
"The playing surface was just not ideal for good football and it affected the way that my team played," said Boys' Town coach Andrew Price.
"However, getting a point on the road is really not a bad result for us although we came here expecting to take full points."
Reno's coach Bradley Stewart was quite disappointed and blamed his team's lacklustre performance on their partying on Saturday night with supporters of Godfrey Stewart High School, which had won the daCosta Cup earlier in the afternoon.
Reno, like Godfrey Stewart, are based in Savanna-la-mar.
"The majority of the players were out celebrating with the Godfrey Stewart supporters," said Stewart, who also did not have the services of star midfielder Fabian Blake.
"In the second half when I expected them to lift their game the energy level was just not there."
EARLY ADVANTAGE
In the first half Reno had the early advantage and should have taken the lead in the fifth minute. Andre Jarrett got away cleanly on goalkeeper Philmore Crumbie but his powerful shot from just outside the area sailed over the crossbar.
In the 10th minute Boys' Town bounced back with a stinging counter-attack and came perilously close to snatching the lead. Michael Campbell dribbled to the edge of the goal area but drove his shot straight at goalkeeper Kingsley James.
Towards the end of the half Reno got back-to-back chances in the 37th and 39th minutes. Firstly, Nyron Davis got inside the goal area but fired wide from a difficult angle and then the overlapping Keniel Moodie fired inches wide from six yards.
In the second half Boys' Town gradually began to look more assertive, putting their passes together and forcing back Reno. In the 63rd minute, George Vernal fired inches wide from close range and a minute later, Campbell struck the crossbar after getting off a powerful shot in a goal-mouth melee.
Reno wasted the easiest of chances in the 75th minute when Ricardo Scott battled his way deep into Boys' Town's penalty area. Under pressure from the goalkeeper and the defenders, he lost possession before he could compose himself for a shot on goal.
In the dying minutes of the game Reno got yet another chance to grab full points but again the opportunity was wasted. Substitute Kevon Grant latched onto an aerial cross but his side-footed volley went straight at the goalkeeper.
GOALSHEET
Reno 0
Boys' Town 0
