Foster fuelling Reno’s run
CRAIG FOSTER has scored three goals and provided one assist in four Red Stripe Premier League matches for Reno FC since his return in January.
This has been a key factor in pushing the Westmorelandbased club to a three-game unbeaten run, which leave them three points outside the top six and importantly seven clear of the relegation places.
At this stage last season, Reno were in eight position and looking like a club heading into the relegation battles.
However, with a completely new-look unit to include Foster plus a couple young players such as the current STETHS midfielder-turnstriker Demar James and Michael ‘Diddy’ Kerr, Reno are beginning to look like a refreshing unit under technical director Wendell Downswell.
Their come-from-behind 1-1 draw on Sunday at home against a powerful Portmore United team came on the back of a gutsy performance, with the game-tying goal coming in added time from a thunderous Afiba Chambers header.
The draw keeps them five clear of Maverley-Hughenden (20 Pts) in the chase of sixth place Arnett Gardens FC, who suffered a surprising 3-0 defeat to relegation candidate Waterhouse FC on Sunday, but gave Downswell and his team additional confidence moving forward.
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“Three games without a loss in our situation is a big deal. I fail to remember the last time we have gone three games unbeaten and this is because of the work we had put in during the Christmas break and the players we have added in the transfer window,” explained Downswell.
“The huge part of this really is that we got Craig Foster back with us for the rest of the campaign and his goal scoring acumen is well known. It’s that sort of threat up front that we missed and he has returned with a bang. We are delighted with that,” Downswell added.
In praising Foster, Downswell noted that he has added dynamism to his game, from his experience playing for the Harrisburg City Islanders in the USL.
Foster could miss the next league match for Reno as a precaution, however, after picking up a knee injury midway the first half against Portmore.