Refs adding to Reno’s woes – Hughes

The window through which Reno is peaking back into the Red Stripe Premier League is inching closer to shut and the coaching staff for the Westmoreland-based outfit believes match officials have been assisting the process.

Reno assistant coach, Courtney Hughes, believes that some vital decisions at crucial moments of their recent matches haven't gone their way, just as in their last encounter against Dunbeholden at the Royal Lakes Complex on Sunday where they were beaten 3-0.

"We started the game poorly. The first goal our goalkeeper said he was fouled and the referee saw otherwise. Then we had a goal going in (which was disallowed) and we lost a centre-half from the ensuing play and to lose two things one time, things just weren't going our way," he said. "We came out second half and was playing good, then the penalty call went against us, which was again questionable. So moments in the game calls didn't go our way.

During the season a number of decisions have not been healthy against us that has cost. This game, two calls that could have gone either way went against us and that changed the course of the game."

The defeat left Reno rooted at the bottom of the table with 23 points. The team has not won in their last eight matches and has only secured three points. With relegation staring them in the face, Hughes insists they will fight to the end.

"This is not something we want but circumstances alter cases and so we have to rise from this, and, if there is a chance, we have to fight with the opportunities that we get," he said.

"The players are fighters and we know the importance for the community to fight from here. Our chance (of survival) is pretty slim but once we have a chance and once there is a will, we will find a way.We will fight to the end. That is the type of club we are."

Dunbeholden took the lead after just four minutes through Dean-Andre Thomas. Five minutes after the break, Thomas doubled the lead with his second from the penalty spot. Demario Phillips sealed the win for the host with a low strike in the 58th minute.