Defending champions DIRECTV W Connection settled for a 1-1 draw against Police FC on Friday night at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium in Round One Match Day Six of the Digicel Pro League.
The Stuart Charles Fevrier coached-Connection had to come from behind with a beautiful 30th minute headed goal by Jerrel Britto who towered the defence to meet Silvio Spann's left side corner beating goalkeeper Emmanuel Nurse to level the scores 1-1.
Connection was left beaten five minutes earlier when a free-kick from Trent Noel some 35 yards out, looped over the top, beating everyone, including goalkeeper Aquelius Sylvester to hand the Lawmen a shock opener.
The result left Connection in third with 9 points, one point shy of joint leaders Caledonia AIA and Defence Force. While Police FC moved up a spot into sixth position with 5 points.
On Saturday, second positioned Defence Force because of a lesser goal difference behind Caledonia, will take on bottom of the table T&TEC FC from 5pm at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
A win for their Soldiers put them three points clear with the Christmas break around the corner following next weekend's Round One Match Day Seven fixtures.
Meantime Connection and Police will definitely rue missed chances in the second period on Friday night.
Midway through, Shahdon Winchester did well to muster a header at goal however he was denied by the determination of Police hardman Karlon Murray who headed the effort out for a corner.
W Connection substitute Clyde Leon then had an excellent crack at goal from distance, missing the crossbar by inches as Police survived another.
Then moments after flopping in front of goal, Winchester found himself in front of goal in the 85th minute with a cross from Hashim Arcia, but the effort at goal was charged down by the legs of Nurse.
The Richard Hood coached-Police also had their second half opportunities wasted.
In the 87th minute following an excellent break by the Lawmen, Kareem Perry dragged an effort wide instead of opting to one of two teammates inside the area.
And in the final and third minute of injury time, Errol Charles who had a volleyed effort early in the half, showed some good skill near the corner to evade his marker before sending in a cleaver cross which was met by substitute Todd Ryan who fired at goal only to be denied by Sylvester.
Digicel Pro League
Round One Match Day Six result
W Connection 1 - 1 Police FC
Jerrel Britto 31' ; Trent Noel 24'
Teams
W Connection--Aquelius Sylvester, Shahdon Winchester (capt.), Akeem Benjamin, Leslie Joel Russell, Kemuel Rivers, Christian Viveros, Andre Quashie (Yellow Card) (Clyde Leon 62nd), Silvio Spann, Andrei Pacheco (Hashim Arcia 62nd), Stefano Rijssel, Jerrel Britto.
Coach--Stuart Charles Fevrier.
Police FC--Emmanuel Nurse, Trent Noel (capt.), Karlon Murray (Yellow Card), Jevon Morris, Wesley John, Errol Charles, Anton Hutchinson, Akiba Peters, Kareem Perry, Dexter Alleyne (Yellow Card) (Ricardo Peltier 86th), Brendon Christopher (Todd Ryan 68th), Aaron Stewart (Keon Quow 66th).
Coach--Richard Hood.