Second positioned Caledonia AIA held off a gritty second half performance by St. Ann’s Rangers on Wednesday night at the Ato Boldon Stadium to pick up much needed Digicel Pro League points with a 2-1 win.
Caledonia opened the scoring in the rescheduled Round One Match Day Seven contest from the penalty spot in the 13th minute with Kareem Joseph converting past Rangers goalie Zane Coker into the right upper corner for a 1-0 advantage.
Coker had initially brought down Trevin Caesar inside the area after the Tobagonian forward was set free by a Sherron Joseph pass and referee Cecile Hinds wasted no time in signaling to the spot.
Caesar then added Caledonia’s second in the 16th minute for an early 2-0 cushion when he capitalized on lapses by defender Musa Nakhid and Coker to slam in his strike from close range.
However Rangers pulled a goal back in the 45th minute to reduce the deficit 1-2 when a pass into the area by midfielder Dwane James was knocked down and hammered past goalkeeper Glenroy Samuel by winger Tyrone Charles following a dominating half by Caledonia.
Caledonia, now with 26 points, eventually held on for full points which saw the Morvant-Laventille club creep closer to leaders Defence Force (32 points).
But numerous unconverted chances by Caledonia in the first half could have cost the Jerry Moe-coached Caledonia against a courageous Rangers’ second half.
After providing the penalty and registering an item moments later, Caesar was dangerous again in the 23rd minute when he played in Sherron Joseph and the skillful Caledonia midfielder unleashed a low effort which Coker tamed.
And a minute later Caesar had an effort charged down by Coker, and the follow-up effort sliced harmlessly by the Caledonia forward for the Rangers goalie to make a comfortable gather.
Caledonia was close again in the 31st minute when defender Audrey David headed a Miguel Alejandro Romeo corner from the left, inches wide of the Rangers upright. Then in the 38th minute Caledonia holding midfielder and captain Stephan David chipped in with an effort from outside the area to force another save out of Coker.
But the most miserable effort came in the second period, when in the 64th minute midfielder Akim Armstrong blasted a volley off target with the goal at his mercy from the edge of the six yard area from a cross-ball.
Meanwhile Rangers enjoyed forcing the Morvant-Laventille club back on a number of occasions but continuously failed themselves in the final third of the field.
Apart from Charles 45th minute item, Rangers had an earlier effort in the 33rd minute from the goal-scorer who was denied by the legs of goalkeeper Samuel after teaming up with James just inside the left of the area. And in the 39th minute, attacker Devon Modeste smashed an effort into the side netting after he was unleashed by midfielder Muhammad Nakhid.
In the end Rangers remained slouched in seventh position with just 9 points from 12 games.
Results
St. Ann’s Rangers 1—2 Caledonia AIA
Tyrone Charles 45’ ; Kareem Joseph 13’ (pen), Trevin Caesar 16’
Teams
St. Ann’s Rangers—Zane Coker, Mikhail Awai (capt.), Muhammad Nakhid (Alfie James 76th), Jamal Jack, Ryan O’Neil, Tyrone Charles, Dwane James, Devon Modeste, Cecil Jeffrey (Keifer Edwards 85th), Dominic Hutchinson (Yellow, Yellow, Red), Musa Nakhid.
Coach—Dean Pacheco.
Caledonia AIA—Glenroy Samuel, Stephan David (capt.), Aubrey David, Colin Nelson, Trevin Caesar (Odelle Armstrong 70th), Abdallah Phillips (Vurlon Mills 58th), Kareem Joseph, Akim Armstrong, Sherron Joseph, Akeem Thomas (Aquil Selby 46th), Miguel Alejandro Romeo (Yellow Card).
Coach—Jerry Moe.