Village United's Jeff Pearce (left) finds himself in an awkward position as he tries to pierce the Reno defence yesterday in the Digicel Premier League game at the Elleston Wakeland Centre in Falmouth. Village won 1-0. - photo by Adrian Frater

Western Bureau:

Village United yesterday condemned Reno FC to relegation while keeping their slim bid to avoid joining them there with a 1-0 win in the crucial 'bottom six' Digicel Premier League fixture at the Elleston Wakeland Centre in Falmouth.

Ironically, for Reno, a former three-time premier league champion, the lone goal of the game was scored by a Reno player - an own goal in the 40th minute by one of a group of defenders trying to play the ball back to goalkeeper Aaron Lawrence.

The Cassman Williams-coached Village, which have now moved up to 37 points, must win their final game against Sporting Central Academy on their home turf and hope that Meadhaven United either draw or lose when the final fixtures are played on Sunday.

Drawing board

"We came into the game today knowing that we have to get all six points from our last two games to retain our place in the competition, so we had to start with a win against Reno," said Williams. "We will now be going back to the drawing board to get ready for Sporting Central."

For Reno's coach, Wendell Downswell, it was a most disappointing experience as, according to him, the team abandoned its game plan and chose the wrong day to give one of its weakest performances of the entire season.

"Our performance today was lacking in many crucial areas and, to make matters worse, we gave up an own goal," said Downswell. "The only bright spark was that brilliant save Aaron (Lawrence) made towards the end of the game, which kept the score at 1-0."

After a slow start, Reno created the first opportunity in the ninth minute when Troy Reid floated a superb pass to Fabian Blake, whose glancing header flew wide of the goal.

Seven minutes later, another chance came Reno's way but Ricardo Scott fumbled inside the goal area.

Time running out

Mid-way the half, Village began to show some purpose, especially in attack, through the wily Jeff Pearce. In fact, on one of his many raids, Pearce all but scored when he volleyed just wide of the goal from 18 yards, as the goalkeeper looked on anxiously.

With time running out in the half, Village got their all-important goal when a ball fell into a group of Reno defenders and, in their anxiety to get the ball back to their goalkeeper, one put the ball past him, making the half-time score 1-0.

The second half was lacking in excitement as Village played conservatively and Reno struggled for the most part. In the end, it was Village which came closest to scoring again. On the stroke of full-time, Pearce unleashed a fabulous volley, only to be denied by a stupendous save from Reno's veteran goalkeeper.