Reno's Kirk Wright (left) battles for possesion with Village United's Luke Tate during Sunday night's Wray & Nephew NPL game at Jarrett Park. Reno won 2-0. - photo by Adrian Frater

Western Bureau:

Former champions Reno FC and Wadadah FC both started their campaigns in the 2006-2007 Wray and Nephew NPL football competition in fine style at Jarrett Park on Sunday night, registering impressive 2-0 and 3-1 wins over Village United and Arnett Gardens respectively. In the opening game of the afternoon's double-header, Reno secured victory through goals from Nicoly Findlayson and Kevon Grant while in the feature game, newcomer Sean Thorpe, Rohan Reid and substitute Raphael Palmer were on target for Wadadah. Marcelino Blackburn got Arnett's lone goal.

Playing a free-flowing game, Reno basically had Village United on the run from the opening whistle in their game. However, missed chances by Finlayson, Martin Williams and Derrick Howard prevented them from establishing a comfortable first half lead. The half ended 0-0.

In the second half, Village missed a glorious chance to take the lead in the 59th minute when burly Newton Sterling blundered with goalkeeper Dwayne Kerr at his mercy. Two minutes later, Finlayson gave Reno the lead when he pounced on a rebound before the goal and booted home, making the score 1-0.

With Village offering only token resistance, Reno added a second goal in the 81st minute. After trading neat passes with Ricardo Scott on the edge of the penalty area, Grant drove a good low shot out of the reach of goalkeeper Elvis Hart, making the final score 2-0.

Game plan

"Reno play brilliant football as the players stuck to the game plan," said Reno's Central American coach Danilo Barriga. "We could not have hoped for a better start to the season."

In the second game, Arnett started like a well-oiled machine, peppering the Wadadah defence with relentless attacks. Nine minutes into the contest they took the lead when the speedy Blackburn pounced on a superb cross from the left flank and nodded passed goalkeeper Gavine Barrett, making the score 1-0.

Finding themselves behind, Wadadah lifted the tempo of their play and were rewarded in the 23rd minute. An attack orchestrated by skipper Daniel Rickettes ended with the ball being lobbed to Thope racing forward. His powerful header gave goalkeeper Julian McLeish no chance, making the half time score 1-1.

In the second half, Wadadah gradually took control, forcing back Arnett Gardens as they intensified their attacks on goal. They eventually took the lead in the 62nd minute when Reid won possession in a goal-mouth scramble and curled the ball away from the goalkeeper with the outside of his right foot.

- Adrian Frater