Jones fires Connection to fifth straight league win; Police stuns Central 4-1

Connection now sits proudly at the top of the 2013-2014 Digicel Pro League standings with maximum 15 points from five matches, six points ahead of second positioned Point Fortin (9 points).

Also netting a pair of goals at the Couva venue was Police FC defender-turned-forward Elijah Belgrave, contributing half of his team's four goals in a surprise 4-1 win over Central FC in the first match of the Round One Match Day Five double header.

The commanding Police victory, won the Richard Hood coached-Lawmen their second maximum points outing, while ending Central FC--the recently crowned 2013 First Citizens Cup champions--unbeaten run in all competitions this season.

Police moved up a spot on the standings in fourth with 7 points, just as the third positioned Central, but behind by a lesser goal difference.

Belgrave opened the scoring in the 16th minute when he slid in behind the Central defense to direct a well placed Christon Thomas cross past goalkeeper Jan Michael Williams for a 1-0 advantage.

Central looked a shadow of themselves and defensively scattered. And from a team that won its first ever title a week ago and hammered Point Fortin 3-0, with a Rundell Winchester hat-trick, on Tuesday at the very same venue, Central showed very little cohesion, while Winchester was locked out by the Lawmen.

The Terry Fenwick coached-Central had an ambitious volley overbar from team captain Jason Marcano in the 15th minute after meeting a Johan Peltier cross from the right.

And in the 28th minute after a neat combination of passes, Marvin Oliver's touch into the area allowed Peltier a go at goal, but the usually diminutive winger directed a tame effort directly at goalkeeper Adrian Foncette.

Police later doubled its advantage for a 2-0 cushion by the 32nd minute as Central sunk deeper into trouble.

Joel Kevin Lewis--who missed the target by a metre five minutes into the match--skipped past defender Keion Goodridge, and from just inside the right of the area, he finished comfortably past Williams.

The Lawmen capitalized on sloppy defending again in the 36th minute for a 3-0 scoreline before the break.

It was Belgrave that got to his double after he controlled a half clearance by Central and volleyed past goalkeeper Williams from just inside the area.

Midfielder Akiba Peters made it 4-0 in the 68th minute sliding in at the back to direct in a low powerful Thomas cross which flashed across the six yard area.

Central finally pulled back a goal three minutes from time for the 4-1 finish when 19 year old  substitute Dwight Quintero guided in a Marcano cross, all following a determined run by, another substitute, Kaydion Gabriel.

In the second match, Joevin Jones, son of former Police FC footballer and coach Kelvin Jones, was the star of the night as his father watched on proudly from the stands.

Jones fired Connection ahead in the 5th minute for a 1-0 advantage when he collected a Jerrel Britto pass outside the area and wrong footed defender Andre Ettienne, before striking a right footer low into goalkeeper Marvin Phillip's right corner.

Six minutes from the break Britto was inches wide of hitting the target himself with an effort from distance.

And in the 66th minute Britto was denied by Phillip, who produced a superd save. Phillip returning to the starting line up on Friday after being suspended to the bench last Tuesday.

Less than a minute after replacing Sylvester Teesdake, Point Fortin substitute Matthew Bartholomew--one of a number of former Connection players now representing their hometown club PFC--gave the hundreds of traveling supporters something to cheer about in the 69th minute with a powerful effort wide.

But Jones silenced the PFC fanatics in the 72nd minute with a left footed rocket from above the area to beat goalkeeper Phillip a second time on the night and give his team a 2-0 W Connection win.

Round One Match Day Five will continue on Saturday at the Marvin Lee Stadium, when defending champions Defence Force tackle bottom of the table St. Ann's Rangers from 5pm, and eight positioned Caledonia AIA are against sixth positioned San Juan Jabloteh from 7pm.

Results

Central FC 1 -  4 Police FC
Dwight Quintero 87'  ; Elijah Belgrave 16', 36', Joel Kevin Lewis 32', Akiba Peters 68'

Teams

Central FC - 21. Jan-Michael Williams, 7. Jason Marcano (capt.), 3. Keion Goodridge (4. Omar Charles 46th), 6. Toric Robinson, 10. Marvin Oliver, 11. Darren Mitchell (15. Kaydion Gabriel 79th),12. Jamal Jack, 13. Johan Peltier (9. Dwight Quintero 46th), 17. Rundell Winchester, 19. Dwight Pope, 24. Akeem Benjamin.

Unused substitutes - 25. Javon Sample (GK), 16. Akil DeFreitas, 22. Keon Trim, 18. Kevon Goddard.

Coach - Terry Fenwick.

Police FC - 18. Adrian Foncette, 21. Todd Ryan( capt.) (15. Jameel Perry 70th) (28. Aaron Stewart 85th), 1. Errol Charles, 5. Anton Hutchinson, 6. Kenaz Williams, 8. Akiba Peters (11. Kareem Perry 74th), 17. Dexter Alleyne, 19. Christon Thomas, 20. Elijah Belgrave, 25. Kemron Purcell, 39. Joel Kevin Lewis.

Unused substitutes - 31. Theon Browne (GK), 7. Brendon Christopher, 26. Wendell Joseph, 27. Dwayne Salazar, 40. Jabari Williams.

Coach - Richard Hood.

Results

W Connection 2  - 0 Point Fortin Civic FC
Joevin Jones 5', 72'

Teams

W Connection - 18. Julani Archibald, 10. Joevin Jones, 2. Kurt Frederick, 3. Gerard Williams (capt.), 4. Daneil Cyrus, 14. Hashim Arcia, 15. Mekeil Williams (Yellow Card), 24. Joao Ananias Jordao Jr., 31. Jerrel Britto (13. Devaughn Elliot 68th), 65. Neil Benjamin Jr. (27. Yefer Steven Lozano 70th), 40. Jomal Williams (11. Tremain Shayn Paul 62nd).

Unused substitutes - 22. Aquelius Sylvester (GK), 11. Tremain Shayn Paul, 17. Jamal Clarence, 19. Leslie Joel Russell, 39. Alvin Jones.

Coach - Stuart Charles Fevrier.

Point Fortin Civic FC - 1. Marvin Phillip, 6. Kelvin Modeste (C), 2. Garyl Doldron, 13. Ancil Wells, 4. Wesley John, 5. Andre Ettienne, 19. Andrei Pacheco (Yellow Card), 10. Marcus Joseph (Yellow Card), 11. Andre Toussaint (14. Bevon Bass 63rd), 20. Sylvester Teesdale (9. Matthew Bartholomew 69th), 7. Nickolson Thomas (21. Andre Alexis 77th).

Unused substitutes - 26. Miguel Payne (GK), 23. Kelvin Hernandez, 29. Kevin Rouse, 18. Akeem Redhead, 14. Bevon Bass.

Coach - Reynold Carrington.

Connection strangles Point Fortin; Police executes Central raid
By Lasana Liburd (Wired868)

DIRECTV W Connection FC chairman David John Williams has three targets this season.

“Win the league, win the league, win the league,” Williams told Wired868.

Last night, the “Savonetta Boys” showed how seriously they are taking their  title hunt with a clinical and classy 2-0 Digicel Pro League win over Point Fortin Civic in a top of the table clash at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva.

Connection and Civic, after a generation of swapping players and coaches, have a simmering sibling rivalry; but Joevin Jones’ brilliant double made it clear who the big brother is between this pair.

Earlier at the same venue, Police FC turned up with the recipe for “Couva Sharks” as the Lawmen led Central FC by four goals at one point before a late Dwight Quintero strike offered the faintest consolation in a 4-1 battering.

English coach Terry Fenwick does not usually play the victim’s role. But that was the kind of whipping that usually comes with an advisory from the British High Commission warning potential tourists to be on their guard.

By halftime, Police was already out of sight thanks to an Elijah Belgrave double and a solitary Joel Lewis item while the Central backline just looked invisible. And the Lawmen got their fourth in the 68th minute as Christon Thomas motored down the right flank and crossed for Akiba Peters to knock home.

To put that score into perspective, Police had scored one item or less in four of its five outings before last night; and the Sharks had kept three clean sheets from its previous six games and had conceded just one League goal.

One would expect that the Central dressing room would be no place for the fainthearted for the next week or so.

There were not as many goals in the second game of yesterday’s double header but, in some ways, it was just as emphatic.

Just over 1,000 spectators came out to see the “Clash of the Titans”; but, instead, they found themselves watching “JJ and friends.”

Jones, Connection’s scrawny little bully, put his recent internal problems well and truly behind him as the minor league scamp made a major contribution when it mattered.

The only blot yesterday was that Trinidad and Tobago national senior team coach Stephen Hart, presumably spending some time with his family, was not there to see it.

Jones is unquestionably the best left back in the country. But he does not play that role for his club and the debate about where he should feature for the “Soca Wariors” is a topic that has divided the local fans who follow the Pro League from those that do not.

Try telling anyone who was at the Ato Boldon Stadium last night that Hart should not station Jones higher up the field.

And yet, in truth, Connection’s best work against Civic did not involve Jones.

Coach Stuart Charles-Fevrier would probably have been happiest with his team’s defensive effort yesterday and there was no sign of the Connection team that was picked apart at will in its opening CONCACAF Champions League games, two months ago.

“It normally takes us until about six games into the season to get our rhythm,” said Williams. “If we were in the Champions League now, I think the results would be very different.”

Intriguingly, Brazilian right back Joao Ananais was the only South American player in the Connection first team yesterday. And the best player in many respects was combative midfielder Gerard Williams, a St Kitts and Nevis international, who wore the captain’s armband and stomped around barking orders and stopping opponents in their tracks like the Caribbean’s answer to Roy Keane.

Point Fortin attacker Andre Toussaint, one of seven former Connection players in the Civic starting team, came in disguise after a trip to the barber left him without his trademark dreadlocks. But Williams and company still would not let him pass while the likes of Andrei Pacheco, Marcus Joseph and Sylvester Teesdale could not even force a meaningful save from Connection custodian Jelani Archibald over the 90 minutes.

Jones was really just the cherry on top. And yet, with a swing of each boot, the gifted 22-year-old utility player eclipsed all the work of the other 27 players used yesterday.

At kick off, local reporters discussed the fact that Williams and not Jones had the Connection armband. The club chairman explained after that the captaincy would be rotated this season until one of five potential leaders emerges from the group.

By the fifth minute, Jones had made the leadership debate a non-issue with a silky move.

Jerrel Britto played a low pass inside from the left flank towards Jones and he shaped as if to shoot first time with his left boot. Civic defender Weslie John tensed up in expectation of an attempt; only for Jones to allow the ball to run across his body instead.

Then, with pinpoint precision, Jones swung his right boot to usher the ball into the far corner to the right of Civic custodian Marvin Phillip. It was his only touch of the move.

Phillip had controversially missed Civic’s 3-0 defeat to Central in midweek due, allegedly, to his own appearance in a minor league game; although neither club nor player has spoken publicly on the matter.

The Trinidad and Tobago goalkeeper did justify his recall in the 65th minute with a superb save to keep out a Britto cannon, which seemed destined for the top right hand corner.

Jones was nowhere to be found at that point. The Connection maestro has a tendency to go missing for long periods; where he seems to be hovering around the field aimlessly, as though looking for a key that is in his pocket the whole time.

And, just when you find yourself thinking that maybe he is a luxury item in the midfield after all, Jones reappears with devastating effect.

Connection attacker Hashim Arcia cut the ball back towards him, just inside the Civic penalty area, and Jones again needed only a quick shuffle of his feet and one decisive touch. He checked his run and, bang, the ball flew into the roof of the net; and it was game over.

“Without question, Jones is the best midfielder in the country,” cooed Williams.

The love seems to be flowing again within the Connection camp. And it is bad news for their rivals as the Savonetta Boys moved six points clear of second placed Civic.

(Teams)

W Connection (4-2-1-3): 18.Jelani Archibald (GK); 24.Joao Ananias, 4.Daneil Cyrus, 15.Mekeil Williams, 2.Kurt Frederick; 3.Gerrard Williams (captain), 40.Jomal Williams (11.Tremain Paul 61), 10.Joevin Jones; 14.Hashim Arcia, 31.Jerrel Britto (13.Devaughn Elliot 67), 65.Neil Benjamin Jr (27.Yefer Lozano 71).

Unused substitutes: 22.Aquelius Sylvester (GK), 17.Jamal Clarence, 19.Joel Russell, 39.Alvin Jones.

Coach: Stuart Charles-Fevrier

Point Fortin Civic (4-2-3-1): 1.Marvin Phillip (GK); 2.Garyl Doldron, 5.Andre Ettienne, 4.Weslie John, 13.Ancil Wells; 6.Kelvin Modeste (captain), 7.Nickcolson Thomas (21.Andre Alexis 76); 20.Sylvester Teesdale (9.Matthew Bartholomew 68), 19.Andrei Pacheco (14.Bevon Bass 63), 10.Marcus Joseph; 11.Andre Toussaint.

Unused substitutes: 26.Miguel Payne (GK), 29.Kevin Rouse, 18.Akeem Redhead, 23.Kelvin Hernandez.

Coach: Reynold Carrington

Referee: Neal Brizan

Pro League Results
(Fri Oct 25)

Police FC 4 (Elijah Belgrave 16, 36, Joel Lewis 22, Akiba Peters 68), Central FC 1 (Dwight Quintero 87) at Ato Boldon Stadium;

W Connection 1 (Joevin Jones 5, 72), Point Fortin Civic 0 at Ato Boldon Stadium;

Today’s Fixtures
(Sat Oct 26)

Defence Force vs St Ann’s Rangers, 5 pm, Marvin Lee Stadium;

Caledonia AIA vs San Juan Jabloteh, 7 pm, Marvin Lee Stadium.