Overlooked Trinidad and Tobago forward Devorn Jorsling scored a hattrick on Friday night as Defence Force outshot Police FC 4-2 in the second match of a 2014-2015 Digicel Pro League double header at the Marvin Lee Stadium.
The 30-year-old Defence Force talisman opened the scoring just four minutes inside the match and added his second and third items in the second period against Police, who, ironically, defeated the “Tetron Boys” by the same score-line nearly five months ago in the semi-final round of last season’s Digicel Pro Bowl – the previous meeting between both sides.
“It’s a good feeling to score a hattrick against anyone,” Jorsling said after the match. “(…) more so against Police because there is a rivalry dating many years back. So to score a hattrick and come away with three points is a great feeling.”
Jorsling said that while his team have done relatively well over recent years, winning two Pro League titles (2010-2011 & 2012-2013) and the 2009 First Citizens Cup and the 2012 Digicel Pro Bowl, the ambition this season is to win at least two titles in the term.
He added, “I think our game was spot on although we missed some chances. We had a good week in training and when you prepare well, that’s the end result.”
Another “Soca Warrior” desirous of returning to international duty, Kerry Baptiste, lifted San Juan Jabloteh to a 1-0 win over St. Ann’s Rangers in the first match of the Round One Match Day Two double header at the Macoya venue which saw both sides reduced to 10-men.
Baptiste, the Pro League’s all-time record top scorer and 2009 TT Pro League Player of the Year, proved that his scoring ability is very much alive despite being tucked in midfield this season.
The 32-year-old Jabloteh midfielder broke the deadlock in the 44th minute with a perfectly executed strike from just inside the area after Rangers’ goalkeeper Christopher Biggette pushed out an Andell Noray attempt into the path of the Jabloteh captain.
Tobagonian forward Noray and Baptiste, both players involved in the goal, were replaced by in the 66th and 67th minutes respectively by Johan Peltier and Chike Sullivan by coach Keith Jeffrey but the score-line remained unchanged at the final blow of referee Keilon Bacchus’ whistle.
Bacchus however had to summon his red card on two occasions in the second half.
Jabloteh’s Jamaican right-back Adrian Reid was the first to be sent off for obscene language at an official, which was brought to Bacchus’ attention by assistant referee Caleb Wales near the 50th minute.
Rangers’ midfielder Emmanuel Joseph got his marching orders later on following a tackle on Shaquille Bertrand for his second yellow card of the match.
In the second match referee Keon Yorke was also forced to show a direct red card, ejecting Police FC defender Anton Hutchinson in stoppage time following a dangerous tackle on Defence Force defensive midfielder Dave Long.
Police were reduced to 10-men but Army’s extra man advantage didn’t have much time to take effect as the final whistle came a short while later.
In the end Jorsling, who was replaced by Richard Roy in the 69th minute, and company were celebrating full points in a match billed as the "Battle of the Forces".
Jorsling singlehandedly gave Defence Force the early 1-0 lead.
The 2011 Pro League Player of the Year worked his way across the area before letting off a right-footer into the roof of goalkeeper Adrian Foncette's net.
Jorsling then made up for failing to score from excellent opportunities in the 25th and 48th minutes by doubling the advantage 2-0 when he wrapping a left-footed strike around a hapless Foncette in the 54th minute from inside the area after he was picked out by Kerry Joseph.
Jorsling then completed his hattrick in the 61st minute for a comfortable 3-0 score-line.
“I think I still have what it takes to play at the Caribbean level,” explained Jorsling over his ambitions to return to the national team. “The most I can do is show the [national] coach (Stephen Hart) by scoring goals. I think he will be watching and I will keep working hard to score goals. And if the opportunity comes I will take it with both hands.”
Police reduced the deficit 1-3 in the 83rd minute when substitute Kenaz Williams smashed in a rebound after goalkeeper Andre Marchan denied Jameel Perry.
And before that, veteran midfielder Trent Noel had the “Lawmen” best tries: forcing a save out of Marchan from distance and curling a freekick inches wide of the far post.
However Defence Force’s Josimar Belgrave redeemed himself following three first half misses by getting on the end of a well-placed substitute Akeem Roach cross into the six yard area and putting it past Foncette for a 4-1 score five minutes from time.
Perry, who endured a miserable night, finally found the back of the net for Police in the 87th minute after latching onto a long pass forward but at that stage a 4-2 scoreline in favour of Defence Force, wasn’t enough to stage a comeback.
“I did say that I would field my best team,” said Defence Force assistant coach Marvin Gordon, who has been in charge during the absence of coach Ross Russell. “And I thought that the performance showed that. I thought we played total football and commanded the game from the first whistle to the last, but I think in the finishing aspect we let ourselves down in the first half. We picked up in the second half and ended with four goals although we gave away two easy ones.”
Digicel Pro League 2014-2015 Round One Match Day Two Results
San Juan Jabloteh 1—0 St. Ann's Rangers
Kerry Baptiste 44'
Defence Force 4—2 Police FC
Devorn Jorsling 4', 54', 61', Josimar Belgrave 85' ; Kenaz Williams 83', Jameel Perry 87'
Upcoming Fixture [Round One Match Day Two]
Saturday 4 October 2014
Point Fortin Civic vs North East Stars—3.30 pm, Mahaica Oval, Point Fortin
Teams
San Juan Jabloteh: 30. Shane Mattis, 10. Kerry Baptiste (C) (2. Chike Sullivan 67th), 4. Garth Thomas, 22. Caleb Sturge, 18. Jevon Morris, 12. Brendon Boucaud, 6. Dario Holmes, 24. Adrian Reid (Red Card), 7. Andell Noray (9. Johan Peltier 66th), 17. Fabian Reid (23. Brendon Figuera 81st), 14. Shaquille Bertrand.
Unused substitutes: 36. Raheem Belgrave (GK), 8. Sterling Newtown, 16. Nyron Jones, 19. Dillon Kirton.
Coach: Keith Jeffrey.
St. Ann’s Rangers: 22. Christopher Biggette, 4. Jelani Peters (C), 3. Al Davidson, 5. Chad Clinton (Yellow Card), 6. Shaquille Moses, 8. Sedale Mc Lean, 18. Emmanuel Joseph (Yellow + Yellow = Red Card), 10. Kennedy Isles (14. Shabaka Maluli 66th), 11. Josh Toussaint, 17. Keron Alexander (Yellow Card) (21. Keon Peters 78th), 45. Kadeem Corbin (28. Jared Bennett 81st).
Unused substitutes: 20. Shem Alexander, 1. Junior Granger (GK), 16. Keron Cornwall, 23. Craig Wilson.
Coach: Jason Spence.
Match Referee: Keilon Bacchus.
Teams
Defence Force FC: 28. Andre Marchan, 3. Keston Williams (Yellow Card), 4. Dave Long, 6. Rodell Elcock, 8. Curtis Gonzales, 9. Devorn Jorsling (26. Richard Roy 69th), 10. Josimar Belgrave, 17. Ross Russell Jr., 14. Corey Rivers (C) (13. Marvin Jones 69th), 21. Aklie Edwards, 23. Kerry Joseph (11. Akeem Roach 79th).
Unused substitutes: 11. Akeem Roach, 12. Jemel Sebro, 18. Sean Narcis, 22. Jamali Garcia, 25. Sheldon Clarke (GK).
Coach: Marvin Gordon.
Police FC: 18. Adrian Foncette, 5. Anton Hutchinson, 10. Trent Noel (C), 15. Jameel Perry, 35. Kerry Frederick (30. Marcus Chandool 60th), 19. Christon Thomas, 20. Elijah Belgrave, 25. Noel Williams, 29. Clevon Mc Fee, 32. Kaaron Foster (6. Kenaz Williams 56th), 38. Jabari Williams.
Unused substitutes: 1. Errol Charles, 2. Jasimar Ashers, 6. Kenaz Williams, 9. Hector Sam, 30. Marcus Chandool, 39. Kevin Lewis, 34. Keston Mata (GK).
Coach: Richard Hood.
Match Referee: Keon Yorke.