Arnett Gardens' Newton Sterling (left) is congratulated by Oneil Robinson, after scoring one of his two goals in the Digicel Premier League football match against Boys' Town at Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex on Sunday. Arnett Gardens won 3-2. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer

WESTMORELAND:

Reno FC of Westmoreland awoke from a winless seven-match slumber with a whopping 6-1 spanking of Portland's St Georges FC, in a bottom-six showdown in the Digicel Premier League football competition.

The first half was an evenly contested segment which ended 1-0 in favour of Reno, when a corner taken by Nicholy Findlayson in the 25th minute was scored by Reno's captain Patrick Graham.

Reno came out blazing from all angles in the second half and it paid off with five more goals.

Fabian Blake got two in the 58th and 73rd, his second a cannonball shot from 25 yards out. Troy Reid, who came on during the half, also scored twice, in the 62nd and 68th, his second a dribble which confused the St Georges defence. Kenroy Hutchinson scored the other goal in the 70th.

Morale and enthusiasm

St Georges made their single entry on the scorecard on the stroke of the full time when Omar Henderson scored.

At 42 points, St Georges are not in danger of being relegated.

Wendell Downswell, technical director for Reno, explained that the only thing his team did differently than its other matches was to score their chances. He said that this win will boost the morale and enthusiasm among the players and spectators and the hope is that Reno will win all five games and remain in the competition.

The coach of St Georges, Geoffery Maxwell, was absent from the game but his captain, Ralston Robinson, believes that they paid a hefty price for indiscipline. He explained that there is a division amongst the players and that impacted significantly on the result. He is, however, confident that this will be sorted out.

Surviving the drop

Victory pushed Reno to 29 points, still bottom-of-the-table but a bit more hopeful of surviving the drop. Sporting Central Academy (35) and Rivoli United (38), which played to a goalless finish at Brancourt, are hard to catch but Village United (30) and Meadhaven (33) are very much within their range.

At the top of the ladder, Portmore United continued their relentless march to the title with a 2-0 shut-out of Waterhouse, in Sunday's late game at Ferdie Neita Park.

Steven Morrissey (42nd) and substitute Cornelius Henry (90+) scored for Portmore, which moved to 70 points, eight clear of closest rivals Tivoli Gardens, who swapped positions with Harbour View after beating the east Kingston team 2-0 at Edward Seaga Sports Complex.

Harbour View remained on 61, seven ahead of Boys' Town, who lost a sizzling Trench Town derby 3-2 to Arnett Gardens at Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex. Arnett moved to 50, five clear of Waterhouse.