Rasbert Turner, Gleaner Writer
Spanish Town:
Debutants Sporting Central Academy scored an upset 4-3 victory over three-time champions Reno in their third round Cash Plus Premier League encounter at Spanish Town Prison Oval yesterday.
In a ding-dong battle, Oneke 'Dunga' Ford made all the difference, scoring all four goals to lift his team's profile with the win against a seasoned campaigner Reno of Westmoreland.
It was Reno which actually seemed on course, when a Kirk Wright double gave them an early 2-0 lead. Wright scored in the first and seventh minutes to hand Reno its early advantage.
Ford reduced the deficit on the stroke of half-time, when he netted the first of his four-timer in the 43rd minute.
Equaliser
Close to midway the second half, Sporting Central, playing its home games at Prison Oval in Spanish Town because Brancourt in Clarendon is not fully up to premier league standards, netted the equaliser. A combination between Sean Coleman and Ford paved the way for the goal in the 64th minute, with the latter slamming home his second goal.
The crowd erupted when Ford and Coleman went at it again in the 68th minute and produced a similar result - with Ford converting the goal for a 3-2 scoreline.
Yet, there was more drama as Recardo Scott scored five minutes later to draw Reno level at three-all.
It was to be Ford's day, however, and he put the icing on the cake in the 76th minute. After receiving a pass on his right foot and with only the goalkeeper to beat, he beautifully slotted home, making the score 4-3 and bringing the stands to its feet with a cacophony of sounds as the spectators celebrated what would turn out to be Sporting Central's first taste of victory in the Premier League.
Reno had a chance to redeem themselves, however, but first half hero Wright became the villain when he missed a penalty in the 85th minute.
Coach of the victors, Kevin Thomas, was full of joy.
"Realising that we were down, we had to change our method of attack, removing Dwayne Ford to a more attacking play and it makes you feel like a genius today as we won. It also goes to show that we are here to stay in the Premier League with the big boys."
Aaron Lawrence of Reno blame faulty finishing.
"We did not score goals, we did not even play our type of football and we lost. It's early days yet, we will be coming back.
The win takes Sporting Central Academy to four points, while Reno remained on two from three matches.
| Sporting | 4 |
Oneke Ford 43rd, 64th, 68th, 76th Reno | 3 |
Kirk Wright 1st, 7th, Recardo Scott 73rd
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