St Fleur bangs in a brace as MBU win at Reno
Published:Sunday | December 7, 2014 | 7:01 PMPaul Clarke
WESTERN BUREAU:
Versatile wing back Lesly St Fleur scored a brace to lead champions Montego Bay United (MBU) to a combative 3-2 win over Reno FC in the Red Stripe Premier League football match at Frome Sports Complex yesterday.
It was the latest in the series of derbies between the two western super clubs, with MBU edging them by the odd goal in five - to avenge the 4-3 loss in the Flow Champions Cup final - to move to 19 points.
St Fleur scored the opening goal in just the second minute of the game, with a well-placed free kick. His second goal came from the penalty spot in the 64th minute.
leading goalscorer
Craig Foster
Premiership leading goalscorer Craig Foster scored in the 31st minute to equalise for Reno with his 11th goal of the season.
He came within inches of netting his 12th and his team's second in the 45th minute, but his shot crashed against the crossbar, with MBU keeper Garen Downie well beaten to his left.
Not long after the break, Allan Ottey headed past the hesitant Chad Bryan in the Reno goal to make the score 2-1 in the 54th minute.
It got worse for the home team when a through ball saw Bryan scampering off his line to clear, but missed the ball and clattered into the advancing MBU player.
The loose ball was headed goalwards, but in true goalkeeping style, defender Rondell Morris blocked what appeared a certain goal with his hand, and was duly sent off by the referee in the 62nd minute.
The resulting penalty was expertly converted by St Fleur for a 3-1 lead.
deflected free kick
MoBay United conceded a second goal when a Codean Smikle free kick deflected off a defender and into the goal in the 70th minute.
Reno's late push for the equaliser fell flat and they succumbed to a third straight loss.
"It was a good game, but we made mistakes in defence again to concede. But we lifted our game and managed to hold our lead," said MBU coach Carlos Garcia.
He added: "We are a very attacking team, but we need to tighten up in the back. I am happy, however, that we won, as we have surpassed the tally we had at this stage last year."