Caledonia AIA held off Police FC 2-0 on Saturday night at the Marvin Lee Stadium, spoiling any attempt of an early celebration by probable 2012-2013 Digicel Pro League champions Defence Force.
Caledonia, positioned second on the standings now with 39 points and four points behind leaders Defence Force (43 points) with two match-days remaining, kept alive its mathematical chance at the title by opening the scoring from the penalty spot.
Twenty-seven minutes into the match Police goalkeeper Adisa Alleyne swept the legs of Caledonia forward Trevin Caesar leaving referee Rashby Mc Phie no chance but to signal a penalty.
Kareem Joseph proved again why he was the go-to man for penalty kicks, with Alleyne motionless as the ball entered the back of the net for a 1-0 Caledonia lead.
Police, motionless in 6th position with 15 points on the standings, measured the Morvant-Laventille club but was denied on three occasions by goalkeeper Shemel Louision.
The Caledonia goalkeeper produced two good saves in the first half to keep out an early Trent Noel and a Kareem Perry strike in the 45th minute.
In the 75th minute the Grenada National Team goalie pulled off a fine save measuring a superb strike from distance from Noel as Police failed to peg its way back in the first math of the Round Three Match Day Five double header at the Macoya venue.
And by the 79th minute, substitute Jamal Gay landed Caledonia’s second item on the night for a 2-0 win, three minutes after Nathan Lewis flashed an effort just wide of the Police goal.
Gay, controlled a pass by Keyon Edwards inside the area on the turn and slipped a low strike past Alleyne to lock up three valuable points.
In the second match of the double header, North East Stars had to come from behind in the first half to draw 1-1 with 7th positioned St. Ann’s Rangers.
Rangers went ahead in the 13th minute when striker Devon Modeste capitalized on some scrappy defending to bury his strike past a hapless Cleon John.
But in the 32nd minute, Stars’ ace forward Cornell Glen leveled the scores when he dragged the ball over the line from close up beating goalkeeper Jan-Michael Williams, after Jamaican Keithy Simpson knocked a Kevon Villaroel cross, across the face of goal.
However Glen, who is second on the goalscorer’s list this season with 16 goals and had an effort thwarted by Williams in the 63rd minute, failed to hand the Sangre Grande club victory in the 74th minute when he missed penalty kick.
Goalkeeper Williams seemed too large in goal when Glen slammed his effort inches wide of the upright, after winning a questionable hand ball decision by referee Gordon Maloney against defender Muhammed Nakid.
And in added on time, Williams preserved Rangers’ one point by making a fully stretched save to blank Stars’ substitute midfielder Jayson Joseph.
North East Stars remained fourth on the standings despite joining DIRECTV W Connection on 32 points, as the ‘Savonnetta Boys’ enjoys a healthier goal difference.
Meantime all the attention remains on leaders Defence Force and Caledonia AIA when the League resumes in May with just two match-days remaining.
The Soldiers with matches against W Connection (3 May) and T&TEC FC (10 May) could secure the title by its next match, while Caledonia with matches against Central FC (3 May) and Rangers Saturday (11 May) surely remains optimistic.
Results
Police FC 0—2 Caledonia AIA
Kareem Moses 29’, Jamal Gay 79’
St. Ann’s Rangers 1—1 North East Stars
Devon Modeste 13’ ; Cornell Glen 32’
Teams
Police FC—Adisa Alleyne (Yellow Card), Todd Ryan (capt.), Jasimar Ashers, Keon Quow (Jameel Perry 64th), Trent Noel, Kareem Perry (Yellow Card), Jevon Morris, Elijah Belgrave, Clevon McFee, Kerry Fredericks (Akiba Peters 71st), Kenaz Williams (Anton Hutchinson 64th).
Coach—Richard Hood.
Caledonia AIA—Shemel Louision, Stephan David (capt.), Aubrey David, Nuru Abdullah Muhammad, Aquil Selby, Trevin Caesar (Jamal Gay 71st), Keyon Edwards, Kareem Joseph, Akim Armstrong, Densill Theobald, Nathan Lewis (Miguel Alejandro Romeo 82nd).
Coach—Jerry Moe.
Teams
St. Ann’s Rangers—Jan-Michael Williams, Mikhail Awai (capt.), Jelani Peters, Tyrone Charles, Devon Modeste, Jamal Jack (Yellow Card), Cameron Roget, Kurdell Brathwaite (Keifer Edwards 71st), Muhammed Nakhid, Kadeem Drayton, Shem Alexander (Caleb Sturge 63rd).
Coach—Dean Pacheco.
North East Stars—Cleon John (capt.), Kareem Moses, Kevon Villaroel, Jeromie Williams, Micah Lewis (Elijah Manners 57th), Akiel Guevara (Jayson Joseph 57th), Cornell Glen, Glenton Wolfe, Kennedy Hinkson (Marcus Gomez 78th), Keryn Navarro, Keithy Simpson.
Coach—Angus Eve.