North East Stars picked up its third Digicel Pro League win on Saturday by defeating Police FC 2-1 at the Ato Boldon Stadium.
An opening item by Cornell Glen and a superb strike from Jamaican midfielder Keith Simpson had the Stars in front by two goals before giving away a penalty item just before the hour mark.
The Angus Eve coached-North East Stars remains fourth on the standings with 13 points from 9 games (3:4:2), three points behind defending champions DIRECTV W Connection (16 points) and four points away from second positioned Caledonia AIA (17 points).
But not close enough to leaders Defence Force (25 points) who defeated the Stars 1-0 last weekend and hammered Caledonia 5-1 on Friday.
North East Stars were lucky not to concede in the 27th minute against Police when Christon Thomas tried his luck from the left from distance only to hit the crossbar.
Three minutes later on the other end, Glen failed to hit the back of the net when he casually flicked a Micah Lewis' pass towards goal which was chauffeured away by Elijah Belgrave.
But in the 38th minute Glen from the centre of the area made no mistake by smashing in a hard-worked Lewis cross into an exposed goal for a 1-0 advantage.
Lewis, who evaded a sloppy challenge by defender Akiba Peters to provide Glen with the cross, was later replaced by Kaydion Gabriel during the interval and was seen nursing a knee injury.
Then came the Simpson item in the 52nd minute.
The ex-Tivoli Garden FC player whipped a right footed curling effort from some 30 yards out to beat goalkeeper Adisa Alleyne inside the far netting for the 2-0 cushion.
But that advantage was cut into half after referee Joel Davidson ruled that midfielder Keryn Navarro handled the ball in attempt to control it inside the area in the 56th minute.
Police midfielder and team captain Todd Ryan stepped up and buried his kick into the centre of goal beating a fully sprawled Cleon John to reduce the deficit 1-2.
The Stars had two late opportunities from substitute Gabriel to return their two-goal advantage.
Gabriel was denied by Alleyne in the 84th minute after he was set free by a Navarro pass on a counterattack, and in injury time his glancing header off an Akiel Guevara cross found the side netting.
Nevertheless the score-line remained and the Sangre Grande club celebrated victory. Meantime Police FC, which held the Stars to a 1-1 score in Round One, pocketed its fourth League defeat and occupy fifth position with 10 points from 10 games (2:4:4).
Result
Police 1-2 North East Stars
Todd Ryan 57'(pen) ; Cornell Glen 38', Keith Simpson 52'
Teams
Police FC--Adisa Alleyne, Todd Ryan (capt.), Anton Hutchinson, Akiba Peters (Yellow Card) (Aaron Stewart 65th), Trent Noel, Noel Williams, Christon Thomas (Keon Quow 82nd), Elijah Belgrave (Yellow Card), Kemron Purcell, Clevon Mc Fee, Kerry Fredericks (Errol Charles 82nd).
Coach--Richard Hood.
North East Stars--Cleon John (capt.), Kareem Moses, Kevon Villaroel, Micah Lewis (Kaydion Gabriel 46th), Akiel Guevara, Elton John (Yellow Card), Kaashif Thomas (Jayson Joseph 75th), Glenton Wolfe, Kern Navarro, Keith Simpson, Cornell Glen (Elijah Manners 82nd).
Coach--Angus Eve.