Last season’s Digicel Pro League runners-up Caledonia AIA started the new year in winning style on Friday night by overcoming visiting Point Fortin Civic 2-1, while undefeated leaders DIRECTV W Connection dropped points against defending champs Defence Force in a 1-1 draw, all at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
Striker Jamal Gay kicked off 2014 by scoring twice in the opening match Round One Match Day Nine double header, netting on either side of the half to hand Caledonia only their third win of the round.
The win propelled Caledonia two spots up the ladder into fourth position with 12 points, one point less than second and third positioned Police FC and Defence Force (13 points), but a wide eight-point gap away from Connection (20 points) after Friday night’s double header.
Gay blasted Caledonia ahead in the 7th minute for a 1-0 advantage by beating goalkeeper Marvin Phillip from around 12 yards.
And the Morvant/Laventille club failed to double its advantage two minutes into the second period when Nathan Lewis headed inches wide of the base of the upright from an Akim Armstrong cross.
Their slim advantage, however, was lost in the 57th minute of play when debuting forward Kendall Davis scored a diving header for a 1-1 score.
Davis, 31, a former Connection player, was only registered on the morning of Friday, along with Jamille Boatswain, a second half substitute, and Kestwin Goolie, who was not part of coach Reynold Carrington’s roster for the Port of Spain trip.
It was from a right side Steven Joseph corner that Andrei Pacheco drove an attempt, which was placed into the back of goalkeeper Shemel Louison’s net by the veteran Davis.
But in the 63rd minute Caledonia were back in front 2-1 and the 24 year old Gay celebrating his second on the night.
The lanky Caledonia forward was taken down outside the left of the area by Joseph, who was involved in Point Fortin’s item, and from the resulting free-kick taken by Noel Williams, Jamal Gay, between a mix of players, bodied the ball over the line.
Point Fortin turned up the tempo at that stage in search of a second equalizer, but were let down by their finishing and a couple saves by Caledonia’s Louison.
In the 69th minute Glen Sutton’s cross flashed across the face of goal, before it was struck back into the middle of the area by Marcus Joseph, and Pacheco produced an overhead attempt wide of the upper corner.
Then in the 72nd minute Davis was denied by Louison, who also produced a great save on the follow up strike by Sylvester Teesdale. Louison, Grenada’s National Senior Team goalie, had also made a fine save against Akeem Redhead twelve minutes into the match.
Newcomer Boatswain was thrown into attack by Carrington, but nervously wasted good opportunities with first time strikes in the 78th and 83rd minutes as Point Fortin, seventh with 9 points, failed to stage even a draw.
Caledonia head coach Jamaal Shabazz surely welcomed the result, but must be wary that his team along with Police and Defence Force could slip downwards by the end of the weekend.
On Saturday sixth positioned North East Stars (10 points), who acquired the services of former Trinidad and Tobago youth player Chike Sulivan and talented midfielder Kerron Cummings during the December/January transfer window, takes on bottom of the table St. Ann’s Rangers (3 points) from 3:30pm at the Larry Gomes Stadium.
And on Sunday, fifth positioned Central FC (11 points), boasting its latest signing in T&T midfielder Ataullah Guerra, will tackle eight positioned San Juan Jabloteh (6 points) from 5pm.
Leaders Connection will not be affected by the rest of the weekend’s results.
However, coach Stuart Charles Fevrier must be mindful that his recently crowned Toyota Classic and FA Trophy champions have only managed a point each in their last two outings, after six straight league wins.
Connection created its first solid attempt in the 37th minute of play but that only offered Silvio Spann a go at goal from distance, and overbar.
And two minutes later an ambitious attempt from right-back Alvin Jones, saw his right footer swooshed just high of the crossbar.
Then on the stroke of halftime Connection were lucky not to concede, thanks to the heroics of defender Daneil Cyrus, when he miraculously cleared a close range blast from Kevon Carter.
It took Connection three minutes into the second period the break the deadlock, when striker Jerrel Britto slipped in front of defender Ross Russell Jr. to meet a hard-worked Neil Benjamin Jr. cross, and guided it into the back of goalkeeper Sheldon Clarke’s net for a 1-0 score.
Hashim Arcia then missed out on doubling his team’s advantage in the 59th when his effort crashed off the base of the upright as action between the leaders and defending league champions intensified.
Ten minutes later Defence Force substitute attacking midfielder Josimar Belgrave was denied by a deflection, and from the resulting corner swung in by Corey Rivers, defender Rodell Elcock blasted a strike onto the crossbar.
The Soldiers then leveled the scores 1-1 in the 74th minute Carter got the final touch, guiding a Devorn Jorsling assist off Rivers’ cross, into the back of goalkeeper Jelani Archibald’s net.
However coach Marvin Gordon, in charge in the absence of Ross Russell, could only watch on in disappointment as substitute Richard Roy spilled in the 86th minute off a Belgrave cross, and two minutes later, Josrsling smashed an effort onto the crossbar after powering through defenders Cyrus and Christian Viveros.
Anxiety also prevailed over Connection when in the 90th minute defender Cyrus struck high and wide, failing to even force a save out of Clarke. Then in stoppage-time the Defence Force second choice goalie at his mercy, Cyrus was denied by Clarke.
Results
Caledonia AIA 2—1 Point Fortin Civic
Jamal Gay 7’, 63’ ; Kendall Davis 57’
Defence Force 1—1 W Connection
Kevon Carter 74’ ; Rennie Britto 48’
Teams
Caledonia AIA—1. Shemel Louison, 2. Aubrey David (Yellow Card), 3. Nuru Abdullah Muhammad, 7. Stephan David (C) (Yellow Card), 12. Kareem Joseph, 17. Akim Armstrong (19. Nical Stephens 82nd), 20. Noel Williams, 21. Densill Theobald, 23. Jamal Gay (6. Marcus Ambrose 73rd), 8. Keron Bethelmy, 27. Nathan Lewis (9. Keyon Edwards 64th)
Unused substitutes—11. Abdallah Phillips, 13. Julian Wade, 16. Tyrone Charles, 15. Aaron Lester
Coach—Jamaal Shabazz
Point Fortin Civic—1. Marvin Phillip, 4. Weslie John, 5. Andre Ettienne (Yellow Card), 17. Glen Sutton, 19. Andrei Pacheco (33. Jamille Boatswain 73rd), 10. Marcus Joseph, 18. Akeem Redhead, 8. Steven Joseph (Yellow Card), 7. Nickcolson Joseph, 31. Kendall Davis, 13. Ancil Wells (20. Sylvester Teesdale 64th) (Yellow Card)
Unused substitutes—11. Andre Toussaint, 23. Kelvin Hernandez, 21. Andre Alexis, 26. Miguel Payne (GK), 30. Akiniyel Rouse
Coach—Reynold Carrington
Teams
Defence Force—25. Sheldon Clarke (Yellow Card), 3. Keston Williams, 4. Dave Long (Yellow Card), 6. Rodell Elcock, 8. Curtis Gonzales (Yellow Card) (10. Josimar Belgrave 64th), 9. Devorn Jorsling, 11. Kevon Carter, 12. Jemel Sebro (23. Kerry Joseph 70th), 14. Corey Rivers (C), 15. Jerwyn Balthazar (26. Richard Roy 70th), 17. Ross Russell Jr.
Unused substitutes—1. Kevin Graham (GK), 7. Balondemu Julius, 18. Sean Narcis, 21. Aklie Edwards
Coach—Marvin Gordon
W Connection—Jelani Archibald, 3. Gerard Williams (C), 4. Daneil Cyrus (Yellow Card), 2. Kurt Frederick (13. Devaughn Elliot 82nd), Christian Viveros, 39. Alvin Jones, 7. Silvio Spann, 10. Joevin Jones (Yellow Card), 65. Neil Benjamin Jr. (11. Tremain Shayn Paul 73rd), 31. Jerrel Britto (16. Shahdon Winchester 67th), 14. Hashim Arcia
Unused substitutes—Aquelius Sylvester, 17. Jamal Clarence, 29. Mikaeel Jem Gordon, 19. Leslie Joel Russell
Coach—Stuart Charles Fevrier