Team captain Jerwyn "Bally" Balthazar was the toast of his Defence Force team-mates as he conjured up a winner five minutes into time added-on to secure a 1-0 triumph over Morvant Caledonia AIA and a one-point lead in the race for the $250,000 top prize in Division One of the Ascension Invitational Football League on Wednesday.
Both teams looked as though they would settle for a share of the points despite their valiant efforts, however, Balthazar, a former national futsal soccer player as well, had other ideas and fired in the decisive item to push his team to 25 points from 11 matches, one ahead of Morvant Caledonia AIA who suffered a second defeat on the trot in the process after a 0-3 loss to Cunupia FC at the same venue on Saturday last.
Team captain Jerwyn "Bally" Balthazar was the toast of his Defence Force team-mates as he conjured up a winner five minutes into time added-on to secure a 1-0 triumph over Morvant Caledonia AIA and a one-point lead in the race for the $250,000 top prize in Division One of the Ascension Invitational Football League on Wednesday.
Both teams looked as though they would settle for a share of the points despite their valiant efforts, however, Balthazar, a former national futsal soccer player as well, had other ideas and fired in the decisive item to push his team to 25 points from 11 matches, one ahead of Morvant Caledonia AIA who suffered a second defeat on the trot in the process after a 0-3 loss to Cunupia FC at the same venue on Saturday last.
Last night in Division Two, third-placed San Fernando Giants had a chance to go top of their table ahead of the final round of matches on Sunday with a victory against third from bottom RSSR FC at Curepe Recreation Ground, Knowles Street, Curepe.
Going into the match, Deportivo P.F led the table with 25 points from ten matches, one ahead of the University of T&T while San Fernando Giants sit third with 22 points and last night's encounter in hand.
On Sunday in the final round of matches, Giants and Deportivo P.F will meet at Mannie Ramjohn Stadium, Training Field, while UTT hosts Marabella Family Crisis Centre at O'Meara Road, Arima, both from 4 pm.
RESULTS
Yesterday
Defence Force 1 (Jerwyn Balthazar 95th) vs Morvant Caledonia AIA 0
On Tuesday
Club Sando 2 (Nion Lammy 18th, 48th) vs Police FC 1 (Kareem Freitas 68tth)
Latest Ascension Team Standings
Division One
Teams*P*W*D*L*F*A*Pts
1. Defence Force*10*8*1*1*22*6*25
2. Morvant Caledonia*10*8*0*2*21*10*24
3. Cunupia FC*10*6*1*3*23*13*19
4. Jabloteh*9*6*1*2*20*13*19
5. T L. H Rangers*9*5*2*2*29*8*17
6. Club Sando*10*5*1*4*18*14*16
7. Police FC*10*3*2*5*18*14*11
8. Santa Rosa*9*3*2*4*14*17*11
9. QPCC*9*2*4*3*11*17*10
10. Guaya United*9*2*0*7*6*21*6
11. Prison Service*10*1*1*8*11*27*4
12. Matura ReUnited*10*1*1*8*11*41*4
Division Two
Teams*P*W*D*L*F*A*Pts
1. Deportivo*10*8*1*1*53*9*25
2. UTT*10*7*3*0*31*11*24
3. San F'do Giants*9*7*1*1*26*10*22
4. Police FC*10*6*0*4*13*17*18
5. Erin FC*10*4*1*5*16*20*13
6. Harlem Strikers*10*4*1*5*14*22*13
7. Club Sando U/Youths*10*3*3*4*21*21*12
8. Moruga FC*10*3*2*5*14*23*11
9. Bethel United*10*3*2*5*14*26*11
10. RSSR FC*9*3*1*5*11*13*10
11. P.V/D.M*10*2*1*7*9*20*7
12. Marabella*10*1*0*9*6*36*3
Upcoming Matches
Division One
Today
QPCC vs San Juan Jabloteh, Dibe Rec. Grd, Long Circular, St James, 7 pm
RELATED NEWS
Footballers attack match referee.
By Walter Alibey (Guardian).
An investigation is underway to determine a possible course of action, if any, to deal with players of Morvant Caledonia United in Wednesday's top of the table clash in the Ascension Invitational Football League with Defence Force at Larry Gomes Stadium in Malabar Arima.
Video footage being circulated showed assistant referee Kirt Charles being assaulted by players from the Morvant Caledonia team while the match officials were making their way off the pitch.
It is uncertain what caused the altercation, but it is understood that players from the Eastern Stallions (Morvant Caledonia United) were furious over the Army's winning goal from Jerwyn Balthazar which appeared to have come from an off-side position in the 90+5 minutes of the match. Following the goal the players and supporters protested, nevertheless, the game was completed and the Morvant Caledonia players continued their protest of the goal with match referee Crystal Sobers and Charles.
But yesterday Guardian Media Sports was reliably informed by players from Defence Force that referee Sobers allegedly reacted to constant verbal challenges from the Morvant Caledonia players.
Her action led to an immediate reaction by the players, which then triggered Charles to spring into action to defend his fellow referee.
Video footage showed Charles at the end of a brutal attack, as players and officials from the Defence Force players making attempts to quell the matter.
When contacted by Guardian Media Sports on Thursday, Kyle Duprey who was the Match Commissioner, was reluctant to comment, saying the matter was being investigated by League officials. He explained, however, the match was professionally done by some of the country's top officials (Crystal Sobers - match referee; with assistants Kirt Charles and Ainsley Rochard). He said Morvant Caledonia players appeared to have been enraged with the last-minute goal, with such a hefty cash prize ($250,000) at stake.
Key official Richard Piper could not be reached for comment on Thursday. It is understood he had been engaged in meetings all day, trying to secure a legal opinion of how to treat with the matter. Piper had also been attempting to get the accounts of several eyewitnesses.
With the goal, the Defence Force won the game 1-0 and returned to the top of the standings with 25 points with one round of matches to go. They lead Morvant Caledonia United by one point going into their final game against Matura Re United on Sunday.
Caledonia will be up against FC Santa Rosa's 'Big Cannons', who were at the losing end of 7-0 drubbing by Terminix La Horquetta Rangers at La Horquetta.