Attacking midfielder Jason Marcano had a pair of goals credited to his name and an opening assist on Friday night at the Ato Boldon Stadium as Central FC snapped a 6-match winless streak in the Digicel Pro League.
Mockingly, Marcano—a now former Rangers player—only recently swapped clubs during the December-January transfer window to join his old time coach Terry Fenwick at the central based club.
Marcano provided a telling cross from the right to find another transfer window acquisition, Johan Peltier, who skillfully guided the cross wide of goalkeeper Zane Coker and into the far netting for a 1-0 Central advantage 24 minutes into the match.
Clearly it was a product that Fenwick would take full credit for having worked with both players at the now dissolved San Juan Jabloteh during his lengthy coaching career.
Bulky Antiguan forward Peter Byers, another Fenwick loyalist, and former Jabloteh player who only arrived at Central this month had an opportunity to double Central’s advantage by the 44th minute.
But after being set free by a Justin Fojo pass, the Antigua international struck his effort directly at Coker who made a shutout.
Two minutes inside the second half and Coker blanked the Central forward again before fisting away a Weslie John header from the resulting corner.
Rangers however wouldn’t go down easily and leveled the scores 1-1 in the 62nd minute on a counterattack.
Utility player Devon Modeste settled a pass on the platter for onrushing defender and former Jabloteh player, Tobagonian, Jamal Jack who unleashed a powerful crack that goalkeeper Marvin Phillip couldn’t keep out despite getting enough glove to the ball.
Marcano, who scored against Central in a 3-2 Rangers win last November, punished his former club in the 76th minute to restore the Central advantage with a 2-1 score-line as Coker was left beaten a second time.
It was from a throw-in by Byers on the left that Marcano raced past defender Musa Nakid before taking control of the ball and burying a shot past Coker.
And in the 88th minute following what seemed an own goal by Rangers defender Dominic Hutchinson, referee Joel Davidson credited Marcano with the item.
Marcano’s through-ball towards substitute Rennie Britto created a bit of confusion in the Rangers defense - Coker completely losing it when he rushed over 20 yards out and completely missing the ball in an attempt to dump it forward.
Hutchinson was left in a tussle with Britto but the Rangers defender made a blunder, under challenge, by guiding the ball into his own net to hand Rangers a 3-1 win in the end.
It was the first League win for Fenwick who took up the vacant coaching post at the beginning of January left by fellow Englishman Graham Rix, but not the first overall win for the former Jabloteh coach.
Fenwick guided Central to quarter-final and semi-final wins over Shiva Boys College and T&TEC FC respectively in the FA Trophy to reach the Final which will be contested against defending champions Caledonia later this season.
While in the League, Fenwick was welcomed to a 3-0 defeat against his longtime rivals and defending champions DIRECTV W Connection just a day after picking up his Central job.
Fenwick followed up with drawn League results against Police FC and T&TEC FC respectively and Friday’s 3-1 win pushed the ‘Sharks’ up one spot into fifth on the standings with 11 points from 9 matches.
Nowhere close to leaders Defence Force with 28 points from 11 matches and enjoying an 11-point advantage following their 3-0 win over Police FC in the earlier contest on Friday night.
Round Two Match Day Four continues on Monday at the Ato Boldon Stadium with T&TEC against Caledonia from 6pm and North East Stars will tackle Connection from 8pm.
Results
St. Ann’s Rangers 1—3 Central FC
Johan Peltier 24’ , Jason Marcano 76’ , 88’ ; Jamal Jack 62’
Teams
St. Ann’s Rangers—Zane Coker, Mikhail Awai (capt.), Dwane James (Yellow Card) (Alfie James 73rd), Dominic Hutchinson, Musa Nakhid, Devon Modeste, Jamal Jack, Cameron Roget, Dwane James, Muhammed Nakhid, Kadeem Drayton, Cecil Jeffrey (Devon King 86th).
Coach—Dean Pacheco.
Central FC—Marvin Phillip (capt.), Weslie John, Carey Harris (Yellow Card), Omar Charles, Johan Peltier (Yellow Card) (Darryl Trim 71st), Marvin Oliver (Marc Leslie 90th), Peter Byers, Adrian Noel, Darrel Mitchell (Rennie Britto 63rd), Justin Fojo, Jason Marcano.
Coach—Terry Fenwick.