The likelihood of defending Digicel Pro League champions DIRECTV W Connection retaining the title this season is becoming particularly difficult for the Couva based club.
On Monday the third positioned Connection suffered only its second league defeat when North East Stars’ 2006 World Cup striker Cornell Glen scored twice—once on either side of the half—to hand the Angus Eve coached-Sangre Grande club a 2-0 win.
But more importantly, vital points were dropped by the Stuart Charles Fevrier coached-‘Savonnetta Boys’ now 12 points adrift of leaders Defence Force (28 points) midway through the championship.
Meantime the North East Stars are now 16 points, tied with Connection, but sits just behind in fourth because of a slightly lesser goal-difference following their Round Two Match Day Four contest at the Ato Boldon Stadium.
In the earlier match of the double header, second positioned Caledonia demolished T&TEC FC 6-0 with a pair of goals from Sheldon Holder and an item each from Trevin Caesar, Akim Armstrong, Sherron Joseph and Keyon Edwards for a boosted 20 points.
Caledonia dissected T&TEC on numerous occasions hence the score, while North East Stars cashed in on limited chances.
Glen got a break in the 17th minute and provided his team with a 1-0 advantage after his left footed strike took a deflection off defender Daneil Cyrus to wrong side the unfortunate Connection goalie Aquelius Sylvester.
But Sylvester was totally to blame for the Stars second item in the 68th minute that gifted North East Stars a 2-0 score.
Sylvester and Glen contested a deep ball into the area by Stars’ right-back Kennedy Hinkson with both players going to ground.
Sylvester remained stretched out on his goal-line in anticipation of winning a foul against the Stars’ forward as the ball nervously rolled onto the line. Glen sprung up to eventually learn that no infringement was called against him and gladly made a short sprint to poke the ball over the line for his second on the night.
Connection now with a D-W-D-W-D-L-W-D-W-L record this season shows how difficult it is for consecutive wins.
Connection striker Jerrel Britto found the side netting 20 minutes into the match with a powerful right footed strike after making a run-on to meet a perfect pass by Gerrard Williams.
And in the 32nd minute Stars’ goalie Cleon John made a superb serve tipping behind a deflected Joevin Jones effort which looped over the defense as Connection tried to recover from the first Glen item.
By the second North East Stars item Connection was limited to shots from distance with the exception of a 77th minute strike that John had to make a good stop.
Results
North East Stars 2—0 W Connection
Cornell Glen 17’, 68’
Teams
North East Stars—Cleon John (capt.) (Yellow Card), Kareem Moses (Yellow Card), Jeromie Williams, Akiel Guevara (Elijah Manners 77th) (Yellow Card), Cornell Glen (Marcus Gomez 85th), Micah Lewis (Shane Hospidales 90th), Kaashif Thomas, Glenton Wolfe, Kennedy Hinkson, Keryn Navarro, Keith Simpson.
Unused substitutes—Adrian Foncette, Jean-Luc Rochford, Jayson Joseph, Neveal Hackshaw.
Coach—Angus Eve.
W Connection—Aquelius Sylvester, Elijah Joseph (capt.), Akeem Benjamin, Daneil Cyrus, Gerrard Williams, Hashim Arcia, Jerrel Britto (Neil Benjamin 72nd), Stefano Rijssel (Andrei Pacheco 77th), Silvio Spann (Jomal Williams 82nd), Kurt Frederick (Yellow Card), Joevin Jones.
Unused substitutes—Alejandro Figueroa, Kemuel Rivers, Leslie Joel Russell, Tremaine Shayn Paul.
Coach—Stuart Charles Fevrier.