T&TEC FC returned to the top of the Digicel Pro League standings on Tuesday night after completing a 3-1 win over Defence Force at the Larry Gomes Stadium in the second match of a rescheduled Round One Match Day One double header.
It was the second meeting of the two teams in five days, and T&TEC proved that ‘electricity’ can strike twice against the same opponent following Friday’s 3-0 win against the soldiers at the Ato Boldon Stadium.
Goals by Aubrey David (16th minute), Kevon Neaves (83rd minute) and Bevon Bass (86th minute) saw T&TEC jump two spots up the standings with 25 points, one ahead of W Connection (24 points) and two ahead of Caledonia AIA (23 points).
In the earlier clash of the Malabar venue double header, St. Ann’s Rangers failed to complete a double against Police FC following Friday’s 5-2 win against the ‘lawmen’.
In fact, Rangers avoided defeat on Tuesday night thanks to a pair of equalizing goals by midfielder Kaashif Thomas for a 2-2 finish.
Thomas first equalized in the 72nd minute following Kareem Young’s first half strike for Police in the 44th minute. The ‘lawmen’ were back in front by the 74th minute with defender Wesley John headed goal off Trent Noel’s freekick. But from a set piece in added on time, Thomas found the net again leveling the scores in the bottom of the table clash.
And later on T&TEC were in the driver’s seat with a 1-0 advantage by the 16th minute when defender Aubrey David defeated goalkeeper Kevin Graham with an elementary header from Kevon Neaves right side freekick.
But seconds into the second period, Josimar Belgrave who replaced Kenrick Cupidore at the interval, made his first touch on the ball count by neatly controlling a long pass forward by Sean Narcis and blasting past goalkeeper Marvin Phillip to level the scores 1-1.
The soldiers were lucky not to concede another in the 59th minute, when Neaves opened fire from the right, and the deflected effort just missing the far post.
Defence Force had a great opportunity to take the advantage in the 61st minute however Narcis, close up on the far post, miscued a Balthazar freekick to T&TEC’s delight.
And within the following couple of minutes, Graham made a blockout against Bass and on the other end goalkeeper Phillip made a shut-out against a Balthazar volley.
The Ross Russell coached side created two more chances in the 69th and 70th minutes with Richard Roy showing good skill before volleying over bar and Belgrave followed with another effort too high of the goal.
Roy was shy of the goal again in the 75th minute smashing a freekick inches too high from some 35 yards out as Defence Force charged for the go ahead goal.
However in a space of three minutes, T&TEC found the net a second and third time with Kevon Neaves directing a hardworked Bevon Bass cross over the line in the 83rd minute, and in the 86th minute Bass, unmarked on the right, made it 3-1 superbly volleying past Graham to seal a consecutive victory over the soldiers.
Digicel Pro League Championship
Rescheduled Round One Match Day Four results
St. Ann’s Rangers 2—2 Police FC
Kaashif Thomas 72’, 90’+ ; Kareem Young 44’, Wesley John 74’
T&TEC FC 3—1 Defence Force
Aubrey David 16’, Kevon Neaves 83’, Bevon Bass 86’ ; Josimar Belgrave 46’
Teams
T&TEC FC—Marvin Phillip, Romauld Aguillera (capt.), Kern Peters, Corneal Thomas, Brenton De Leon (Kerry Baptiste 74th), Kevon Neaves (Jamal Ayres 85th), Aubrey David, Eustace Darius, Sylvester Teesdale, Bevon Bass, Kerlon Ferguson (Andre Toussaint 46th).
Coach—Dexter Cyrus.
Defence Force—Kevin Graham, Jerwyn Balthazar (capt.), Glynn Franklyn, Devin Jordan (Dexter Pacheco 65th), Dave Long, Richard Roy, Kerry Joseph, Jemel Sebro, Aklie Edwards, Sean Narcis, Kenrick Cupidore (Josimar Belgrave 46th).
Coach—Ross Russell.