Quincy Ballah and Osaze Springer celebrated their first Morvant Caledonia United goals on Saturday to earn the Eastern Stallions their first points of the 2018 First Citizens Cup by driving the proverbial nail in North East Stars’ coffin with a 2-0 score at the Larry Gomes Stadium.
The win kept alive Morvant Caledonia’s mathematical chance of advance to the semi-finals on 13 July but the 2011 and 2012 champions are third on the Abercrombie Group standings with 3 points and only ahead of Point Fortin Civic by a narrow goal difference (+1) while Police FC and defending champions W Connection both lead the pack with 6 points.
Morvant Caledonia face a tall order with remaining group matches against the unbeaten Police FC on 1 July before rounding off group play a week later (8 July) against W Connection.
Meanwhile North East Stars (0 points), now on a fourth straight loss in all competitions this season, will only play for pride in their final group match against Civic on 29 June.
Ballah lifted Morvant Caledonia in front on 12 minutes from 15 yards on a rebound after Quincy Ballah—like veteran Kareem Joseph made the starting line-up after last week’s 2-1 opening loss to Civic a week ago—struck the upright.
Diminutive winger Springer doubled North East Stars’ troubles in the 24th minute to cushion Morvant Caledonia 2-0 when former goalkeeper Glenroy Samuel spilled a shot from Jomokie Cassimy.
Joseph came alive ten minutes into the second half, forcing two brilliant saves out of his former teammate, Samuel.
But Movant Caledonia, despite the effort by the coaching staff, which includes a joint effort by technical director Jamaal Shabazz and returning coach Jerry Moe, to maintain tempo with forward Sedale Mc Lean, attacking midfielder Kerry Daniel and 17-year-old Dwight Yorke replacing Springer, Joshua Alexander and Ballah respectively beyond the hour mark, failed to stretch the win margin.
Today (Sunday 24 June) Club Sando (1 point) will look to keep alive their mathematical chance in the Immortelle Group when they face bottom-placed MIC-IT St. Ann’s Rangers (0 points) from 4pm at St. Augustine Secondary ground.
Defence Force FC and Central FC lead the Immortelle Group with six points each while San Juan Jabloteh are fourth with a point.
Results
North East Stars 0 v Morvant Caledonia United 2 (Quincy Ballah 12’, Osaze Springer 24’), at Larry Gomes Stadium.
Teams
North East Stars: 1.Glenroy Samuel (GK); 2.Jabari Brathwaite (32.Keithen Carter 66th minute), 3.Raheim Jawahir, 4.Sean Bateau (Capt.), 6.Adrian Noel, 7.Hayden Tinto (16.Daniel La Croix 46th minute), 10.Rivaldo Coryat, 11.Kyle Bartholomew, 17.Shaqkeem Joseph, 18.Josiah Daniel (15.Lashawn Roberts 77th minute), 24.Rakim Cabie.
Unused substitutes: 21.Javon Sample (GK); 5.Sowande Preito, 23.Sherwyn Williams.
Coach: Zoran Vranes
Morvant Caledonia United: 1.Terrence Lewis (GK) (Capt.); 3.Richard Williams, 5.Joshua Sylvester, 11.Quincy Ballah (20.Dwight Yorke 77th minute), 12.Kareem Joseph, 15.Malik Mieres, 19.Renaldo Francois, 22.Joshua Alexander (17.Kerry Daniel 66th minute), 23.Osaze Springer (9.Sedale Mc Lean 66th minute), 26.Jair Edwards, 28.Jomokie Cassimy.
Unused substitutes: 30.Dejourn Charles (GK), 8.Andrew Murray, 16.Travell Edwards, 20.Dwight Yorke, 24.Simeon Bailey.
Coach: Jerry Moe
Referee: Rashby McPhie
Immortelle Group
Rank Team MP W D L GF GA GD Pts.
1 Defence Force FC 3 2 0 1 12 4 8 6
2 Central FC 2 2 0 0 4 1 3 6
3 Club Sando 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1
4 San Juan Jabloteh 2 0 1 1 0 4 -4 1
5 MIC-IT St. Ann’s Rangers 2 0 0 2 2 9 -7 0
Abercrombie Group
Rank Team MP W D L GF GA GD Pts.
1 Police FC 2 2 0 0 6 1 5 6
2 W Connection 3 2 0 1 5 3 2 6
3 Morvant Caledonia United 2 1 0 1 3 2 1 3
4 Point Fortin Civic 2 1 0 1 4 4 0 3
5 North East Stars 3 0 0 3 1 9 -8 0