Led by a Trevin Caesar predatory-double on Tuesday night, North East Stars cruised to a 3-0 win over Police FC to join Central FC and Point Fortin Civic on 29 points on the Digicel Pro League standings.
And in the second match of a double at the Ato Boldon Stadium, reigning champions Defence Force defeated last seaosn's runners-up Caledonia AIA 2-0 in an entertaining bottom half of the table clash.
Caesar scored on either side of the break before a late own goal by Police substitute Clevon Mc Fee struck the final nail in the coffin in their rescheduled Round Two Match Day Nine fixture.
The win improved the Angus Eve coached-Sangre Grande club moving eight points within leaders W Connection (37 points), and only behind second positioned Central and third positioned Point Fortin Civic by a lesser goal-difference.
Caesar handed the Stars a 1-0 lead by the 27th minute when he slid in at the back post, taking over the line a low attempted strike by Chike Sullivan, who was played into the area by an Elijah Manners' pass.
The speedy Tobagonian forward then made it 2-0, with his 10th league goal this season, in the 52nd minute by pouncing on a spill by goalkeeper Adrian Foncette, who failed to gather Sullivan's cross low from the right.
Twenty-two minutes earlier Police failed to emulate Caesar's opening goal when both Jameel Perry and Akiba Peters pulled up their brakes on a sizzling low ball across the six yard area by Christon Thomas.
An ambitious Thomas tried his luck from distance in the 50th minute but couldn't find the back of the net. And nine minutes later striker Jameel Perry struck the base of goalkeeper Cleon John's upright collecting a Joel Kevin Lewis' cross.
John later maintained a clean sheet and his side's two-goal cushion, taming a Kenaz Williams strike on a rebound of an Elijah Belgrave free-kick on the 61st minute, and acrobatically pushing behind a volley by Police substitute Clevon Mc Fee, who swooped into the area five minutes from time.
But when defender Anton Hutchinson's attempted clearance on Stars' substitute Franz Husbands' low cross awkwardly sent the ball onto Mc Fee and into the back of the net in the 89th minute, it was finally over for the "Lawmen".
Caesar and his teammates celebrated three important points, while his former employers Caledonia were far short of such joy.
Josimar Belgrave fired Defence Force ahead 1-0 by the 12th minute with a superb curling strike from above the area, giving Caledonia goalie Shemel Louison no chance.
And nine minutes later the attacking midfielder was denied a second item when his blast from to the top of the area crashed off the body of defender Kareem Joseph at the goal-line, following a dangerous Kerry Joseph cross which was sent in from the right, in a keenly contested rescheduled Round Two Match Day Four fixture.
Caledonia were limited to just one effort on target, which came in the 18th minute through a strike by midfielder Jameel Neptune which goalkeeper Kevin Graham gathered low, as the soldiers in a desperate chase to maintain hope of retaining the title, executed probably their classiest performance of the season.
Caledonia's Louison was forced to pull off a point blank save in the 74th minute, pushing over Balthazar's strike.
But the Grenadian goalie was beaten a second time when substitute Jemel Sebro met Sean Narcis' cross with a powerful header that slipped through the legs of Louison to complete a 2-0 Defence Force win.
The soldiers, with four matches in hand are seventh with 20 points, one point less than Police and Caledonia, in fifth and sixth positions respectfully.
Defence Force, 17 points away from W Connection, will next tackle cellar positioned St. Ann's Rangers on Thursday in a rescheduled Round Two Match Five fixture from 6 pm at the Marvin Lee Stadium.
Digicel Pro League 2013/2014 Rescheduled Fixtures Round Two Match Day Nine
North East Stars 3—0 Police FC
Trevin Caesar 27', 52', Clevon Mc Fee (own goal) 89'
Round Two Match Day Four
Caledonia AIA 0—2 Defence Force
Josimar Belgrave 12', Jemel Sebro 80'
Teams
North East Stars—22. Cleon John (C), 5. Aquil Selby, 7. Elijah Manners, 12. Jayson Joseph, 15. Chike Sullivan (4. Keithy Simpson 70th), 18. Kaashif Thomas, 19. Glenton Wolfe, 20. Trevin Caesar, 23. Kennedy Hinkson (16. Franz Husbands 84th), 25. Keryn Navarro, 41. Neveal Hackshaw (8. Keron Cummings 73rd)
Unused substitutes—1. Stephan Berkeley (GK), 9. Akiel Guevara, 40. Jomoul Francis, 49. Anthony Diaz
Coach—Angus Eve
Police FC—18. Adrian Foncette, 2. Jasimar Ashers, 5. Anton Hutchinson (C), 6. Kenaz Williams, 8. Akiba Peters, 11. Kareem Perry (12. Vernell Ramirez 56th), 13. Elijah Roberts (29. Clevon McFee 73rd), 15. Jameel Perry, 19. Christon Thomas, 20. Elijah Belgrave (Yellow Card), 39. Joel Kevin Lewis (26. Wendell Joseph 63rd)
Unused substitutes—7. Brendon Christopher, 24. Ariei Mc David, 25. Kemron Purcell, 34. Keston Mata (GK)
Coach—Richard Hood
Match Referee—Rodphin Harris
Teams
Caledonia AIA—1. Shemel Louison, 3. Nuru Abdullah, 7. Stephan David (C), 8. Keron Bethelmy, 9. Keyon Edwards, 22. Jameel Neptune (10. Ralph Lundy 62nd), 12. Kareem Joseph, 16. Tyrone Charles (20. Noel Williams 62nd - Yellow Card), 15. Aaron Lester, 21. Densill Theobald, 27. Nathan Lewis (24. Conrad Smith 80th)
Unused substitutes—19. Nical Stephens, 34. Kevin Graham (GK), 13. Julian Wade, 29. Kyle Bartholomew
Coach—Jamaal Shabazz
Defence Force—1. 25. Kevin Graham, 21. Aklie Edwards (C) (12. Jemel Sebro 56th), 2. Glynn Franklyn, 13. Marvin Jones, 9. Devorn Jorsling, 17. Ross Russell Jr., 15. Jerwyn Balthazar, 4. Dave Long (18. Sean Narcis 73rd), 10. Josimar Belgrave, 23. Kerry Joseph (8. Curtis Gonzales 66th), 3. Keston Williams
Unused substitutes—25. Sheldon Clarke (GK), 5. Devin Jordan, 7. Balondemu Julius, 26. Richard Roy
Coach—Ross Russell
Match Referee—Neal Brizan