Comforted by an Andrei Pacheco hat-trick, DIRECTV W Connection defeated Police FC 5-0 on Friday night at the Ato Boldon Stadium to finish the 2012-2013 Digicel Pro League Championship in third, and ahead of fourth positioned North East Stars by goal difference.
The Stars, now 38 points as Connection, edged Central FC 1-0 in the first match of a Round Three Match Day Seven double header at the Marvin Lee Stadium for its first league win against the ‘Sharks’.
A 27th minute item scored by Kerry Baptiste, who guided a header past goalkeeper Shane Mattis from a right side Kennedy Hinkson cross following a neat buildup, stood the winner.
Central meanwhile failed to repeat a 2-1 comeback it did back in February (Round Two Match Day Seven) when first half goals by Jason Marcano and Marvin Oliver outdid an early Cornell Glen item.
Stars without the injury-listed Glen in the last three weeks actually had a chance to double its advantage in the 38th minute, but Mattis pulled off a penalty save against Baptiste.
Referee Rashby McPhie awarded the kick following a handball inside the area by Dario Holmes intercepting a cheeky Marcus Gomez pass between Holmes and Carey Harris.
It wasn’t until late, the 87th minute, that Central’s Darren Mitchell snapped an effort just wide of the Stars upright.
Immediately after on the other end Stars’ substitute Jayson Joseph, two minutes after coming on, guided an attempt just wide after rounding goalkeeper Foncette.
And a minute later Elijah Manners had the ball in the back of the Central net, pouncing on a rebound off goalkeeper Foncette following a strike by the teenaged talent, Gomez.
But another talented teenager in Connection’s Neil Benjamin, hat-trick goalscorer on Monday against league winners Defence Force, had the ‘Savonnetta Boys’ ahead by the 15th minute against Police.
Connection later wrapped up the match with Pacheco scoring in the 20th, 43rd and 50th minutes and Surinamese striker Stefano Rijssel in the 29th minute.
Results
Police FC 0—5 W Connection
Neil Benjamin 15’, Andrei Pacheco 20’, 43, 50, Stefano Rijssel 29’,
North East Stars 1—0 Central FC
Kerry Baptiste 27’
Teams
North East Stars—Andrian Foncette, Kareem Moses, Kerry Baptiste (Keithy Simpson 58th), Kevon Villaroel, Jeromie Williams (Micah Lewis 70th), Elijah Manners, Elton John, Glenton Wolfe, Kennedy Hinkson (Jayson Joseph 86th), Keryn Navarro, Marcus Gomez.
Unused substitutes—Cleon John, Akiel Guevara, Jean-Luc Rochford, Shane Hospidales.
Coach—Angus Eve.
Central FC—Shane Mattis, Carey Harris (capt.), Omar Charles (Cyrano Glen 83rd), Hayden Tinto (Rennie Britto 64th), Peter Byers, Adrian Noel, Rundell Winchester (Yellow Card), Jason Marcano (Yellow Card), Dario Holmes (Yellow Card), Johan Peltier (Marc Leslie 46th), Darren Mitchell.
Unused substitutes—Marvin Phillip(gk), Sayid Frietas, Hector Sam, Weslie John.
Coach—Terry Fenwick.
Match Referee—Rashby McPhie.