Marcus Joseph closed off the 2013-2014 Digicel Pro League in dramatic style on Tuesday night, scoring in stoppage time to lift Point Fortin Civic to a 2-1 win over Caledonia AIA for a fourth placed finish in their debuting season.
Joseph, who was denied twice by the crossbar and on two occasions by Caledonia goalkeeper Shemel Louison, got to his 16th league goal of the season in the final of four minutes stoppage-time at the Ato Boldon Stadium.
Caledonia had led 1-0 from as early as the 5th minute when Pernell Schultz created room for himself inside the area and unleashed a strike past Civic and Trinidad and Tobago goalkeeper Marvin Phillip.
But Caledonia, already cemented in sixth position, surrendered the advantage in the 89th minute – a lifeline that Civic, desperate for a win, welcomed with both hands.
It was Steven Joseph's free-kick from the left skidded off the head of towering defender Akeem Thomas and into the back of the Caledonia net for an own goal, pulling Civic level at 1-1.
Louison, who denied Andre Alexis in the 38th minute and Marcus Joseph in the 59th and 78th minutes in two one-on-one situations, was brilliant again in the first minute of stoppage time to keep out a close up Akeem Redhead strike.
But the hapless Grenada international was left to dry again in the 94th minute and (M) Joseph, who struck the crossbar in the 27th and 31st minutes, finally got it right.
Following a breakdown by Caledonia in midfield, Joseph was at the end of substitute Nickcolson Thomas' pass into the area and slipped a low left-footed strike under an advancing Louison and into the back of the net for a 2-1 come-from-behind win.
Civic, with 42 points at the final blow of referee Gyasi Mc Donald's whistle, hurdled North East Stars by a one-goal goal-difference for a best placed fourth position behind winners W Connection (50 points), and second and third respectively, Central FC and Defence Force, both with 45 points.
Joseph had already won the Golden Boot before stepping onto the pitch for his team's final game of the season after his closest challenger and T&T teammate, Trevin Caesar, failed to add to his tally in the first of the two rescheduled Round Three Match Day Eight fixtures at the Couva venue.
Caesar, who is tied with T&T teammates Joevin Jones and Willis Plaza on 14 goals, wasn't used until the second half by Stars head coach Angus Eve.
By then the Stars were already leading cellar positioned St. Ann's Rangers 1-0 (the same scoreline achieved in Round One and Two against the St. Ann's club) thanks to a 2nd minute Kennedy Kinkson item.
Kinkson controlled on his chest before blasting past goalkeeper Christopher Biggette from the edge of the area after a Neveal Hackshaw free-kick was cleared directly at him.
The Angus Eve coached-Stars then executed probably its best buildup of the match in the 11th minute however midfielder Chike Sullivan's effort in the end, flew overbar.
Rangers, who managed to somewhat lift themselves back into the game, had a scoring opportunity three minutes from the break but Kadeem Corbin struck wide of the target after teammate Josh Toussaint had dribbled past two players on the right of the area to provide the pass.
Rangers were luck on the hour mark when Caesar, who replaced Kaashif Thomas following the break, was denied by the base of the upright.
Caesar had met a Jomoul Francois' cross inside the area but joined Civic's Weslie John and (M) Joseph as players denied by the frame on Tuesday night.
Caesar finally had the ball into the back of the net on the 87th minute but referee Dave Daniel had already blew for a foul against Hinkson.
Time eventually ran out for Caesar and North East Stars who, by the end of the Civic win, occupied fifth position with 42 points.
Caledonia finished sixth with 28 points; one more than seventh positioned Police FC (27 points).
San Juan Jabloteh finished eight with 18 points, and Rangers who had a stoppage time opportunity to equalise against the Stars but defender Isaiah Mc Intyre spilled overbar with goalkeeper John at his mercy off a Kadeem Corbin cross, finished at rock bottom with just 7 points.
Digicel Pro League 2013-2014 Rescheduled Round Three Match Day Eight results
North East Stars 1—0 St. Ann's Rangers
Kennedy Hinkson 2'
Caledonia AIA 1—2 Point Fortin Civic
Pernell Schultz 5' ; Akeem Thomas (own goal) 89', Marcus Joseph 94'
Teams
North East Stars—22. Cleon John (C), 5. Aquil Selby, 12. Jayson Joseph (6. Jeromie Williams 64th), 15. Chike Sullivan (8. Keron Cummings 64th), 18. Kaashif Thomas (20. Trevin Caesar 45th), 23. Kennedy Hinkson, 25. Keryn Navarro (Yellow Card), 40. Jomoul Francois, 41. Neveal Hackshaw, 48. Jesus Perez, 49. Anthony Diaz
Unused substitutes—1. Stefan Berkeley (GK), 7. Andell Jones, 34. Kaylon Hernandez, 29. Shilo Johnson
Coach—Angus Eve
St. Ann's Rangers—22. Christopher Biggette, 44. Sedale Mc Lean (C), 12. Tevin Gilkes, 14. Michael Yaw Darko (32. Joshua Sylvester 73rd), 16. Keron Alexander, 21. Jair Edwards, 26. Josh Toussaint, 28. Kadeem Corbin, 33. Isaiah Mc Intyre, 41. Kevin Carter (49. Chad Clinton 37th) (Yellow Card), 51. Keron Cornwall
Unused substitutes—18. Quincy Ballah, 20. Kazim Donald, 23. Trevin Latapy, 25. Terrence Lewis (GK), 39. Shaquille Moses
Coach—Anthony Streete
Teams
Caledonia AIA—1. Shemel Louison, 3. Nuru Abdullah Muhammad (C), 5. Akeem Thomas (Yellow Card), 6. Marcus Ambrose, 8. Keron Bethelmy (Yellow Card), 9. Keyon Edwards, 12. Kareem Joseph (27. Nathan Lewis 65th), 13. Julian Wade (32. Kyle Bartholomew 80th), 15. Aaron Lester, 16. Tyrone Charles (19. Nical Stephens 46th), 28. Pernell Schultz
Unused substitutes—18. Denron Frederick, 24. Conrad Smith, 30. Akil Stafford, 34. Kevin Graham
Coach—Jamaal Shabazz
Point Fortin Civic—1. Marvin Phillip, 2. Garyl Doldron, 4. Weslie John, 5. Andre Ettienne, 18. Akeem Redhead, 10. Marcus Joseph, 33. Jamille Boatswain (13. Ancil Wells 81st), 29. Kevin Rouse, 19. Andrei Pacheco (17. Glen Sutton 70th), 8. Steven Joseph, 21. Andre Alexis (Yellow Card) (7. Nickcolson Thomas 46th)
Unused substitutes—6. Kelvin Modeste, 30. Akiniyel Rouse
Coach—Reynold Carrington