Dwight Nelson, Gleaner Writer

A double from Hughan Grey carried Sporting Central Academy to a 2-1 victory over Reno, in their opening game of the 2008/9 Digicel Premier League at Brancourt, Clarendon, yesterday.

The Sporting Central team dominated the first quarter after making several advances into the Reno goal area through Sean Coleman and Donovan Peart.

Reno, however, took the lead in the 31st minute when referee Dwight Royal awarded a penalty after Sporting Central custodian, Erron Brown, fouled Davion Thorpe.

Brown initially made a save from a Nicholy Finlayson free kick taken from 22 yards out, and committed the foul after he had advanced towards the rebound, which was already in Thorpe's possession. Finlayson netted from the penalty spot.

Workman-like football

It was workman-like football after the break as the Reno team came out in an attacking mood, making several advances into the Sporting Central goal area.

Reno had the chance to lift their score in the 50th minute after Obrian Woodbine missed a 'sitter' in the 18-yard box, following a cross from Fabian Blake which he kicked wide of the goal.

A double substitute for the Sporting Central team in the 56th minute, which saw Alanzo Adlam and Karl Wiggan brought into the game, turned things around for the Clarendon team which took over the ball possession.

Not long after, Grey's free kick in the 59th minute, from 42 yards, had the Reno custodian Dennis Taylor full stretched to make the save.

Substitute Alanzo Adlam could have drew the score level in the 65th minute after Grey made a superb cross into Reno goal area in which Adlam hit over the crossbar.

One minute later Grey received a pass from Adlam in Reno's goal area and booted a well-placed shot past Reno's custodian Dennis Taylor, to level the scores.

Winning goal

Grey found the winning goal in the 82nd minute after he met Shantel Mundle through on the edge of Reno's 18-yard box, then dismissed Woodbine before placing the ball into the left corner of the goal.

"It was a good game, especially in the second half. We did not play well in the first half because we gave away the ball too much, but in the second we kept possession and scored two goals" said Chris Dawes, Sporting Central's coach.

Wendell Downswell, Reno's coach, said: "It was very disappointing because tactically we made some blunders and we suffered the consequences."

He added: "We would've wanted to start on a good note. However, we are in a position where we will just have to go and reassess what happened here and look forward to our second game, which is against Tivoli."