Sporting thrash Reno 5-2

Dwight Nelson, Gleaner Writer

SPORTING CENTRAL Academy registered an emphatic 5-2 victory over Reno in their Cash Plus Premier League game at Brancourt yesterday.

A rejuvenated Sporting team dominated for the most of the match, although Reno had their fair share of goalscoring opportunities.

"We got the opportunities and made use of them," said Chris Dawes, coach of Sporting Central. "We were in a hole and we needed to get out of it very quickly, so I am happy for this win," he said. Sporting took the lead in the 14th- minute after Shauntel Mundle collected the ball near the centre circle in Reno's half, caught goalkeeper Dennis Taylor in a bad position and fired a cracker at goal. Reno drew level in the 24th minute through a Fabian Blake header.

The Sporting team continued to dominate and went back into the lead in the 33rd minute after Jevaughn Watson dribbled down the flank and made a superb cross into Reno's, box from which Hughan Grey did not hesitate to knock the ball past Taylor. Sporting increased their lead in the 40th minute when Ian Palmer dribbled past Taylor.

Attacking ways

Sporting resumed their attacking ways at the start of the second half and put severe pressure on Reno. Omar Dallas of Reno was sent off in the 66th minute for a second bookable offence. With the visitors reduced to 10 men, Sporting continued to exert pressure and were back on the scorecard in the 82nd-minute through another Grey goal, where he dribbled around Taylor and then walked the ball into goal. Reno replied in the 84th-minute after a Sporting Central defender failed to clear from their area and Nicholy Finlayson kicked the ball into the goal.

Substitute Greg Gardner topped things off for the home side one minute later.

The coach of losing side Reno, Wendell Downswell, said: "The team made three major errors in defence and it cost us dearly". "It was just one of our bad days but we hope we can bounce back," Downswell said.

Sporting 5
Hughan Grey 33rd, 82nd, Shauntel Mundle 14th, Ian Palmer 40th, Greg Gardner 85th
Reno 2
Fabian Blake 24th, Nicholy Finlayson 84th