Second half goals by Kerlon Ferguson and Andrei Pacheco saw leaders T&TEC FC pluck maximum points from visiting Caledonia AIA on Tuesday afternoon at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium with a 2-0 win in an eagerly anticipated Digicel Pro League Championship Round One Match Day Seven contest.
The win extended T&TEC fine run of form in the 2011-12 Championship to four wins and one draw with 13 points after five games—four points clear of closest challengers W Connection (9 points).
And in the only other fixture of the day DIRECTV North East Stars jumped one spot up the ladder with seven points in third following a 1-0 win over St. Ann’s Rangers at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
Debutant Ryan Stewart netted in just the 6th minute for the Emerson Alcantara coached North East Stars.
Not only did the 28 year old former Caledonia AIA midfielder gift his new employers the only item of the game, but a much needed three points coming off two defeats, one win and one draw in previous League outings.
North East Stars also needed to pull some sort of respect having bowed out of the 2011 Toyota Classic with a 2-1 quarter-final defeat against Rangers two weeks ago.
Meantime at the Marabella venue, T&TEC also had a score to settle after losing the Final of the 2011 First Citizens Cup to Caledonia by a 2-1 margin.
It was only the second meeting between both teams and following a goalless first half striker Ferguson broke the deadlock in the 57th minute and Pacheco cushioned the Dexter Cyrus coached side to a 2-0 score in the 75th minute.
The result also gives T&TEC momentum ahead of Friday’s Toyota Classic Final against W Connection from 8pm at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium, while Caledonia struggles in sixth position with just 3 points from one win and three defeats.
2011-12 Digicel Pro League Championship
Round One Match Day Seven results
St. Ann’s Rangers 0—1 North East Stars
; Ryan Stewart 6’
T&TEC FC 2—0 Caledonia AIA
Kerlon Ferguson 57’, Andrei Pacheco 75’