Rivoli United seek victory without playmaker Nelson
RIVOLI COACH Anthony Thompson could not confirm if midfield general Jeremy Nelson, will miss the next three games, for the red card he received against Cavalier in their opening JFF Charley’s JB Magnum Premier League play-off at the Spanish Town Prison Oval on Sunday.
Nelson was shown the exit after 58 minutes for violent play, and according to one club administrator, he was not set to come back until after the return game against Cavalier.
“There is no meeting yet, so until the meeting we cannot confirm that, but I haven’t heard anything like that. It wasn’t a situation where the (opposing) player got damaged,” he argued.
Meanwhile, when Rivoli United travel to Westmoreland tomorrow to face Sandals South Coast in their second Premier League play-off game, they will have to do without the key component of their attack, Nelson.
But Thompson insists that someone has to step up to the plate as after the disappointment of drawing their first game, there is nothing but three points on his mind.
“He is one of my most experienced players and goalscorer, but we have a squad and somebody has to fill the spot. Maybe I will find a better man,” he mused.
However, he feels it is absolutely essential to get a win Sunday. “I am going to miss him, so somebody else has to come out brilliant and try motivate the players and get the best out of them. The aim is for somebody to fill the spot. Somebody has to take up his position because no one man play the game.
DISAPPOINTED
He continued that, “We are disappointed because we should have won the (first) game. We scored and gave up a soft one that was unnecessary, but we got many opportunities and didn’t put them away, then we went down to ten men and we had to lock off going forward and try to keep the one (goal).
“But if I’d won the first game, I would be going for a draw. But I am going out there to get all three. Every game I play, I will go for three points. If I don’t get three, I will take one, but the main thing I am vexed about is that we should have taken care of our home game. Now we will have to make up for it ... we have to,” he emphasised.