Led by an Ataullah Guerra hat-trick, Caledonia AIA knocked the lights out of 10-man T&TEC FC on Saturday night at the Ato Boldon Stadium with a 6-0 win.
The result pushed Caledonia four spots up the ladder into the top with 7 points and ahead of now second positioned Defence Force (7 points) by a much better goals difference.
Conrad Smith, who was denied by goalkeeper Akini Adams in the 12th minute, opened the scoring in the 25th minute.
The experienced striker made a simple turn inside the area and fired past Adams for a 1-0 advantage.
It turned from bad to worse for the Jefferson George coached-T&TEC suffering a blow in the 38th minute when right winger Glen Sutton picked up a direct red card from referee Rodphin Harris for violent conduct against Aubrey David.
Guerra then added his first on the night for a 2-0 cushion three minutes before the break. The skillful midfielder made easy from outside the area placing the ball inside the bottom corner to leave Adams beaten.
Guerra doubled his tally on the hour mark by guiding in a Cornelius Stewart cross past Adams for a 3-0 Caledonia score.
Then Adams who collided with Caledonia substitute Jamal Gay around the 51st minute later complained of head pain and had to be replaced by coach/player George in the 68th minute.
George lasted three minutes before conceding in the 71st minute by a well-placed Keyon Edwards strike from the top of the area for a 4-0 score-line.
Edwards had replaced striker Gay who failed to continue after collision with Adams.
Caledonia continued to show no mercy against some slack defending and were 5-0 up by the 80th minute.
Guerra completed his hat-trick with a cool finish by directing Stephan David's right side cross past George.
And in the 83rd minute Caledonia won a penalty when defender Marc Hunte handled Nathan Lewis cross inside the area. Caledonia left-back Kareem Joseph showed why he is the go-to man for penalty kicks with a well placed finished inside the bottom corner for the 6-0 finish.
The defeat saw T&TEC (3 points) slip one spot into bottom following the Round One Match Day Four slate of matches. North East Stars (6 points) sits third behind Caledonia and Defence Force while Central (6 points) occupy fourth and defending champions W Connection (5 points) are fifth. Police FC (4 points) follows in sixth and St. Ann's Rangers (3 points) in seventh.
Next Tuesday (November 6) could see a new leader as Connection hosts Central in a rescheduled Round One Match Day One fixture from 6pm at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium.
T&TEC FC 0-6 Caledonia AIA
Conrad Smith 25', Ataullah Guerra 42', 60', 80', Keyon Edwards 71', Kareem Joseph 85'
Teams
T&TEC FC--Akini Adams (Jefferson George 68th), Keeron Benito (capt.), Anthony Noriega, Cebastian Bailey (Kevon Neaves 46th) (Yellow Card), Javed Mohammed (Yellow Card), Eustace Darius (Yellow Card) (Angus John 46th), Desta Francis, Tigana Sparks, Kern Peters, Marc Hunte, Glen Sutton (Red Card)
Coach--Jefferson George
Caledonia AIA--Glenroy Samuel, Stephan David (capt), Conrad Smith (Jamal Gay 46th) (Keyon Edwards 54th), Aubrey David, Nuru Abdullah Muhammad, Cornelius Stewart, Kareem Joseph, Nathan Lewis (Trayon Bobb), Densill Theobald, Kemron Purcell, Ataullah Guerra
Coach--Jamaal Shabazz/Jerry Moe
Army climbs to the top, Stars held again
A stunning strike by Richard Roy shot Defence Force to the top of the Digicel Pro League standings on Friday night.
Substitute Devorn Jorsling was instrumental when in the 71st minute he cued-up Roy who blasted a low right footed strike to beat goalkeeper Emmanuel Nurse at first post from outside the area.
The item broke the lengthy deadlock and handed the Soldiers a 1-0 Round One Match Day Four win over Police FC at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium.
The three points propelled the Soldiers to the top of the standings with 7 points with assistant coach Marvin Gordon in charge.
Gordon stood charge in absence of Head Coach Ross Russell who is scheduled to travel to Jamaica on Saturday with the Trinidad & Tobago U20 team for the final round of Caribbean qualifying for the CONCACAF U-20 Championship.
And in the second match of the Marabella double header, North East Stars picked up its third consecutive League draw since defeating Caledonia AIA 3-1 in Match Day One.
The Angus Eve coached-Stars were lucky to walk away with a point against the defending League champions DIRECTV W Connection. All credit to goalkeeper Cleon John who pulled off three superb second half saves to deny set pieces by Connection's Joevin Jones and a save against Shahdon Winchester.
That point kept North East Stars in second on the standings with 6 points, while Central FC(6 points) which hosts St. Ann's Rangers from 5pm at the Ato Boldon Stadium on Saturday, slipped from the top into third following Friday's matches.
Connection sits in fourth position with 5 points and Caledonia(4 points) which visits T&TEC FC(3 points) from 7pm at the Ato Boldon Stadium on Saturday occupy fifth spot.
The Jones-John battle started early in the first half with Jones testing John from distance with a well struck low strike and that was taken comfortably by the Stars goalie.
Connection created a good opening in the 52nd minute however Hashim Arcia clattered a well placed pass by Jerrel Britto overbar from inside the area.
And in the 59th minute Connection penetrated the midfield, before Winchester had a blast on goal which took a deflection on its way to goal. But miraculously John served up a superb save to guide the ball onto the crossbar.
John was at his best again dropping low to thwart a stiff free-kick strike by Jones which got past the wall in the 83rd minute.
Jones had another try in the 89th minute, from another free-kick some 24 yards out, and again he was unable to beat John. The Stars' goalie pulled off another great save to keep out yet another Jones set piece.
Police FC 0 - 1 Defence Force
Richard Roy 71'
Teams
Police FC--Emmanuel Nurse, Todd Ryan (capt.), Akiba Peters, Wesley John, Karlon Murray, Jevon Morris, Dexter Alleyne, Jameel Perry (Stephon Knox), Kareem Perry (Aaron Stewart), Trent Noel, Anton Hutchinson (Ricardo Peltier)
Coach--Richard Hood
Defence Force--Kevin Graham, Corey Rivers (capt), Sean Narcis (Jerwyn Balthazar), Javon Neptune (Keston Williams), Kevon Carter, Ross Russell Jr., Curtis Gonzales (Devorn Jorsling), Devin Jordan, Rodell Elcock, Aklie Edwards, Richard Roy
Coach--Marvin Gordon
W Connection 0-0 North East Stars
Teams
W Connection--Jan Michael Williams (capt.), Daneil Cyrus, Leslie Joel Russell, Kern Cupid, Christian Viveros, Clyde Leon, Joevin Jones, Kemuel Rivers, Hashim Arcia (Stephano Rijssel 80th), Jerrel Britto (Rennie Britto 71st), Shahdon Winchester
Coach--Stuart Charles Fevrier
North East Stars--Cleon John, Seon Power (capt.), Glenton Wolfe, Kareem Moses, Kennedy Hinkson, Micah Lewis (Johan Peltier 72nd), Devon Jamerson, Jayson Joseph, Cornell Glen (Kerry Baptiste 77th), Kaashif Thomas (Kaydion Gabriel 65th), Keryn Navarro
Coach--Angus Eve