Jabloteh wins 11-goal affair against Rangers; Point Fortin's Bevon Bass scores injury-time winner against Stars.
San Juan Jabloteh’s Kerry Baptiste and St. Ann's Rangers’ Clevon Mc Fee both had hat-tricks on Friday night in Round One Match Day Two of the Digicel Pro League, but altogether their goals were dwarfed by a single injury time strike by Point Fortin Civic's Bevon Bass which erupted the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
Jabloteh had earlier defeated Rangers 6-5 in an incredible comeback, but when Bass' 92nd minute strike against North East Stars in the second match of the double-header grabbed a 1-0 Point Fortin win, it was a Carnival atmosphere among nearly 2,000 supporters.
One of the many females that made the long trip from deep south to north Trinidad on Friday, shouted, "No one is going to beat Point Fortin!"
"This was a good game. It was a good performance by both teams," said a male supporter, who also made the long journey to Port of Spain.
It was indeed an intense match between Stars, coached by Angus Eve, and Point Fortin, coached by Reynold Carrington, both coming off Match Day One victories last weekend against Caledonia AIA, 3-0, and Police FC, 4-1, respectfully.
And although it lacked goals, it had all the attributes of a final. The engagement of a very noisy crowd complemented the contest. Even match referee Chevon Wilson wasn't spared by the crowd in disagreement to some of his calls.
Goalless it was by the final minute of regulation time, after solid defending on either end, but in the second of three minutes added on, everything changed.
The Stars had a freekick swung in from the left by wing-back Kevon Villaroel which was collected by Anthony Wolfe inside the area but he was denied by goalkeeper Marvin Phillip.
And on a quick counterattack, Point Fortin substitutes Sylvester Teesdale and Bass combined on the right, and the later broke the deadlock after getting behind the defense to finish superbly into goalkeeper Cleon John's far netting for the 1-0 win.
"I felt overjoyed," said Carrington on his feelings following the Bass item. "It took me back some years. I felt as if Trinidad (and Tobago) qualified for the World Cup again.
"...after the guys worked so hard, I just didn't want them go home without anything.
"We could have settled for just a point, but getting everything was tremendous."
Carrington, a former T&T and W Connection midfielder, and one of three (Jabloteh's Keith Jeffrey and Rangers' Gilbert Bateau the others) debuting head coaches this season, has one early concern though.
"As we move along I just want us to be careful we don't become complacent and overconfident.
"The games will be hard, but I always know that once the players come with the right attitude, they will be successful."
Carrington, who had an assistant coaching stint at Connection and coaching roles at various national youth teams coaching stints, and is a former national teammate of Eve, added, "[Tonight's] match was a more intense than our first game. We had our way in that game (against Police). But this team (North East Stars) being under Angus Eve, will be a better coached team, and better quality players and so on.
"We knew it would have been tougher for us, but what's important for us, is the three points."
Eve's former club, Jabloteh, was merrier in a game of loose defending and eleven goals.
Jabloteh announced its return to the league, after a one-year hiatus, with a compelling 6-5 come-from-behind victory over Rangers.
Former T&T international Baptiste marked his return to San Juan club, which he served between 2003 and 2006, with three of his team's six items.
The 2009 TT Pro League/Toyota Player of the Year rediscovered old form with a simple tap in past goalkeeper Akil Clarke for a 1-0 advantage in the 12th minute on a second attempt.
Rangers forward, Mc Fee, then momentarily stole the show with a first half hat-trick.
First from a deflected set piece in the 15th minute, Mc Fee defeated goalkeeper Keston Malchan to level the score 1-1.
He then made it 2-1 in the 23rd minute by blasting past Malchan from the top of the area after he was picked out by right winger Qian Grosvenor.
The Rangers captain then completed his hat-trick by the 30th minute with a strike from inside the area for a promising 3-1 advantage.
Mc Fee, who found the back of the net again in the 36th minute but from an offside position, found the side netting a minute later.
And by the 43rd minute teammate Kennedy Isles was making repeated flips in celebrating a goal of his own and a comforting 4-1 Rangers' lead before the break.
But Baptiste, who captains his side, added his second item five minutes inside the second period for what turned out the start of a Jabloteh comeback, 4-2 the score.
Rangers' Kerron Cummings had a free-kick gloved behind for a corner in the 57th minute, and in the 63rd minute the talented midfielder had a crack from distance just overbar following a neat buildup by Rangers, but that didn't quell Jabloteh’s plans.
In the 65th minute Rennie Britto, a former Ma Pau, W Connection and Central FC winger, further reduced the deficit 3-4 when he guided in a Baptiste pass to beat Clarke.
Britto later returned the assist with a cross in the 69th minute and Baptiste was clean on the control before blasting past Clarke to level the scores 4-4.
Jabloteh were back in front by the 78th minute with a 5-4 lead thanks to a blast into the roof of the net by Britto, getting to his double. And by the 83rd minute, it was 6-4, when a well executed Shane Hospidales' free-kick, following a foul on Baptiste just outside the area, defeated the wall and goalkeeper Clarke.
Two minutes from time Rangers' substitute Michael Yaw Darko, who was denied by Malchan in the 83rd minute, pulled a goal back for the 6-5 final score.
Results
San Juan Jabloteh 6 - 5 St. Ann's Rangers
Kerry Baptiste 12', 50', 69' Rennie Britto 65', 78', Shane Hospidales 83' ; Clevon McFee 15', 23', 30', Kennedy Isles 43', Michael Yaw Darko 88'
Teams
San Juan Jabloteh - 1. Keston Malchan, 10. Kerry Baptiste (C), 7. Rennie Britto, 18. Jevon Morris, 6. Dario Holmes, 13. Savion Kirton(17. Kerry Daniel 41st), 22. Shane Hospidales, 16. Nyron Jones (21. Lemuel Lyons 46th), 19. Dillon Kirton, 20. Kevon Piper, 12. Jamal Spencer.
Unused substitutes - 30. Jessie Peters (G), 14. Shaquille Bertrand, 9. Jelani Felix, 26. Keino Goodridge, 25. Alfie James.
Coach - Keith Jeffrey.
St. Ann's Rangers - 1. Akil Clarke, 7. Clevon Mc ee (C), 4. Jelani Peters, 8. Joel Whiteman, 9. Conrad Smith, 10. Kerron Cummings, 13. Caleb Sturge, 16. Kennedy Isles (14. Michael Yaw Darko 66th), 19. Akim Ash, 20. Qian Grosvenor (5. Duran Dilworth 77th), 23. Dwane James.
Unused substitutes - 2. Marcus Roberts, 11. Jumol Harewood, 18. Jemel Berot, 25. Terrence Lewis, 27. Jelani Grosvenor.
Coach - Gilbert Bateau.
Results
North East Stars 0 - 1 Point Fortin Civic
; Bevon Bass 92'
Teams
North East Stars - 22. Cleon John (C), 2. Kareem Moses, 3. Kevon Villaroel, 5. Aquil Selby, 6. Jeromie Williams (12. Jayson Joseph 83rd), 8. Micah Lewis, 11. Anthony Wolfe, 18. Kaashif Thomas (17. Andres Cabrero Gomez 64th), 20. Trevin Caesar (36. Marcus Gomez 60th), 23. Kennedy Hinkson, 25. Keryn Navarro.
Unused substitutes - 1. Stephan Berkeley (G), 7. Elijah Manners, 9. Akiel Guevara, 19. Glenton Wolfe.
Coach - Angus Eve.
Point Fortin Civic - 1. Marvin Phillip (G), 6. Kelvin Modeste, 2. Garyl Doldron, 3. Lyndon Diaz, 4. Wesley John (Yellow Card), 5. Andre Ettienne, 17. Glen Sutton, 19. Andrei Pacheco (20. Sylvester Teesdale 60th), 10. Marcus Joseph, 9. Matthew Bartholomew (Yellow Card) (14. Bevon Bass 65th), 11. Andre Toussaint (15. Keron Neptune 57th).
Unused substitutes - 22. Akini Adams (G), 29. Kevin Rouse, 18. Akeem Redhead, 21. Andre Alexis.
Coach - Reynold Carrington.
By Lasana Liburd (Wired868)
The Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain was the latest venue for a Digicel Pro League Civic forum last night; and one gets the feeling there is a lot more to come from the rookie team out of Point Fortin and its boisterous fans this season.
Last week, on Friday 13, Point Fortin Civic FC made its Pro League debut with a 4-1 stroll against Police FC in front of over 2,000 supporters at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva. But, last night, Civic showed it could scrap for a result too with a last gasp 1-0 win over a solid North East Stars team.
And, just as crucially, the Point supporters showed that it would take more than a long weeknight drive to separate them from their heroes.
It is a two-hour drive from Port of Spain to Point Fortin and Civic’s Pro League engagement on Friday ended at about 9.47 pm. But none of the southern supporters, which numbered over 1,200, were rushing to the exits as they soaked in a stunning finale against a dangerous Stars outfit.
Ninety minutes had already elapsed and the game was in stoppage time when Stars left back Kevon Villaroel swung a free kick into the opposing penalty area. Anthony Wolfe, a former Trinidad and Tobago World Cup 2006 squad player, stuck his boot to claim the ball and then, at full stretch, flicked his left foot to send the sphere low to the left of Civic custodian Marvin Phillip.
And then, something extraordinary happened.
It had been a bizarre evening at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in truth. Roughly two hours earlier, San Juan Jabloteh played its part in an entertaining double header with a farcical yet remarkable recovery against St Ann’s Rangers to win its season opener 6-5.
The “San Juan Kings” missed last year’s Pro League action due to financial issues and only satisfied the criteria to return to the top flight at the start of September. New Jabloteh coach Keith Jeffrey held his first training session just 10 days ago.
Fate seemed to smile on Jabloteh when Rangers was listed as its first opponent. The St Ann’s based outfit was mauled 7-0 by DIRECTV W Connection last weekend.
There were relieved smiles all around too when skipper and former standout Kerry Baptiste opened the scoring for Jabloteh in the 11th minute after being teed up by another experienced journeyman, Rennie Britto. The good feeling did not last long.
By halftime, Rangers was 4-1 up and cruising.
Rangers captain Clevon McFee scored a natural hattrick in just 16 minutes while the lively Kennedy Isles grabbed another as the Jabloteh defence looked as easy to manoeuvre as an automatic door.
Jeffrey sent on lumbering striker Lemuel Lyons, an acquisition from Club Sando, and he headed over the Rangers defence for Baptiste to run clear and cut the deficit to 4-2 in the 51st minute. And three powerful blasts, two from Britto and one from Baptiste, saw the lead change hands by the 81st minute in front of a stunned audience.
Shane Hospedales curled in a free kick for Jabloteh in the 85th minute before Rangers set up a nervous close to the match with a sharp Jelani Peters finish in the 89th minute.
The Point Fortin supporters, who were just taking their seats, must have wondered if they had walked into a 20/20 cricket match by accident.
The closing game of the double header did not have nearly as much goalmouth action. But then North East Stars, under pragmatic coach Angus Eve, does not do open football.
The only action of the first half comprised of full blooded tackles from either side. Stars played with a five-man defence guarded by snarling midfielder Jeromie Williams, who is built like a nightclub bouncer.
By the 65th minute, Civic coach Reynold Carrington had swapped his two forwards, Andre Toussaint and Andrei Pacheco, and attacking winger, Matthew Bartholomew, as he tried in vain to get a peep at Stars goalkeeper Cleon John.
But it was Stars that grew stronger as time went on. Civic defender Andre Ettienne, roared on by the Point supporters, was playing at his full capacity to subdue Wolfe. But it looked to be a matter of when rather than if the Sangre Grande-based team would get the winner.
“North East… we want a goal!” sang the Stars supporters, who used to be the most vociferous in the Pro League before Point Fortin showed up.
Then came the key moment; Wolfe flicked goalward from inside the penalty area and both sets of supporters stood on their feet in anticipation.
Marvin Phillip, the Trinidad and Tobago custodian, pulled off a low reflex save to his left and someone hooked the ball clear of the crowded penalty area. And it fell to Point playmaker Marcus Joseph.
At the moment when Civic should have been defending for their lives, the rookie team had left three players high up to the field and now they were in possession with only two Stars defenders for company.
Joseph, who had been anonymous for much of the 90 minutes, played the ball to attacker Sylvester Teesdale, who might have attempted a charge through the heart of the Stars defence but opted to pass for fellow substitute Bevon Bass to his right instead.
Teesdale’s pass roll obligingly for his former T&TEC FC teammate and, as calmly as if he were on the training ground, Bass hit a firm but controlled drive into the far corner.
And the stands went berserk.
At the final whistle, Point Fortin supporters cheekily serenaded their vanquished opponents.
“North East… we want a goal!” they sang, with wide, mischievous grins.
The Pro League is not going to be the same this season.
(Teams)
North East Stars (5-3-2): 22.Cleon John (captain) (GK); 23.Kennedy Hinkson, 2.Kareem Moses, 5.Aquil Selby, 25.Keryn Navarro, 3.Kevon Villaroel; 18.Kaashif Thomas (17.Andres Cabrero 64), 6.Jeromie Williams (12.Jayson Joseph 82), 8.Micah Lewis; 11.Anthony Wolfe, 20.Trevin Caesar (36.Marcus Gomez 59).
Unused substitutes: 1.Stefan Berkeley, 7.Elijah Manners, 9.Akiel Guevara, 19.Glenton Wolfe.
Coach: Angus Eve
Point Fortin Civic (4-4-2): 1.Marvin Phillip (GK); 2.Garyl Doldron, 4.Wesley John, 5.Andre Ettienne, 3.Lyndon Diaz; 10.Marcus Joseph, 6.Kelvin Modeste, 17.Glen Sutton, 9.Matthew Bartholomew (14.Bevon Bass 65); 19.Andrei Pacheco (20.Sylvester Teesdale 59), 11.Andre Toussaint (15.Keron Neptune 57).
Unused substitutes: 22.Akini Adams (GK), 8.Steven Joseph, 18.Akeem Redhead, 21.Andre Alexis, 29.Kevin Rouse.
Coach: Reynold Carrington
Pro League results
(Fri Sep 20)
San Juan Jabloteh 6 (Kerry Baptiste 11, 51, 71, Rennie Britto 67, 81, Shane Hospedales 85 FK), St Ann’s Rangers 5 (Clevon McFee 14 FK, 23, 30, Kennedy Isles 43, Jelani Peters 89) at Port of Spain
Point Fortin Civic 1 (Bevon Bass 90), North East Stars 0 at Port of Spain
(Sat Sep 21)
DIRECTV W Connection vs Police FC, 5 pm, Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva
Caledonia AIA vs Central FC, 7 pm, Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva