Last season it took St. Ann’s Rangers all of the 24 Digicel Pro League games before registering a win in the final match-day. But this this season, under the guidance of new coach Angus Eve, Rangers are celebrating a win and last term’s 5-point tally by their fourth league outing.
Then in the second game, a late double within a space of three minute from Police FC attacking midfielder Makesi Lewis saw the Lawmen battle back to a 3-3 draw with San Juan Jabloteh.
Jabloteh, who must tackle Defence Force in Sunday’s Toyota Classic semi-final round, had a 2-0 advantage into the break after netting early on within a space of seven minutes.
Even a double on the night from former Trinidad and Tobago Under-23 forward Jamal Gay, Jabloteh allowed maximum points to slip away.
Gay opened the scoring for Jabloteh in the 7th minute when he smashed a heeled Nathan Lewis pass into the roof of goalkeeper Adrian Foncette’s net.
The Keith Jeffrey-coached Jabloteh then doubled the advantage on the 13th minute when Lewis went from provider to scorer with a neat chip over an advancing Foncette from inside the box.
But a 25-yard rocket of a free-kick by Police captain Todd Ryan which cannoned off the far upright on the 45th minute signalled what was to follow in the second period.
Jabloteh were lucky not to concede an own goal in the 63rd minute when an attempted headed clearance by Aquil Selby sent the ball skidding off the top of goalkeeper Shemel Louison’s crossbar.
Police finally pulled a goal back five minutes later through Kareem Freitas, the younger brother of Rangers' double scorer Sayid Freitas.
Freitas (K) sent a low strike into Louison’s far bottom corner to reduce the deficit 1-2 following a free-kick into the area and short feed.
But Gay, showing good composure after latching onto a long ball forward by Caleb Sturge before attacking the area, executed a simple finish past Foncette on the 79th minute to restore Jabloteh’s two-goal lead with a 3-1 score.
Gay, who failed score on a golden opportunity in the 24th minute after Foncette got his glove to a Kaashif Thomas strike, failed to complete a hat-trick in the 83rd minute when he rolled an effort inches wide of the far post.
Jabloteh’s rued chances, including a stoppage-time effort from Jevon Morris which flew inches over, would stand to haunt the San Juan club in the end.
Makesi Lewis on the other end had stolen the show with a brilliant double, netting in the 85th and 87th minutes, to level Police 3-3, a result that kept coach Richard Hood’s side in fourth position with 6 points while Jabloteh on 4 points remained seventh.
Rangers meanwhile jumped three spots up the standings into fifth, an unfamiliar position for the side that finished bottom of the standings in recent years.
Freitas gave Rangers a 1-0 lead in the 16th minute when he converted from the spot, beating Caledonia goalkeeper Marvin Phillip after referee Keon Yorke awarded the penalty for a tackle by Shaquille Edwards which sent Sedale Mc Lean to ground inside the right of the area.
The 33-year-old former Police FC forward then completed his double on the 20th minute to give Rangers a 2-0 cushion.
Kevon Piper whipped in a perfect delivery from the right, and Freitas blasted in a left-footer on the second bite after Phillip’s outstretched arm got in the way of the forward’s initial attempt.
Freitas missed to later chances before the break, heading overbar from a right side Richard Williams’ free-kick in the 37th minute and seconds later hitting a right-footer wide.
But in the end, like a second half strike in Rangers’ only win last season achieved against Defence Force 2-1, his two goals on Thursday night proved vital for the St. Ann’s club after Caledonia pulled back a goal five minutes into the second period.
Caledonia, who had two failed attempts from Densill Theobald in the first half, got their item on the 50th minute when Sheldon Holder executed a cool finish past goalkeeper Christopher Biggette after Kennedy Isles’ cross from the right slipped through the defence.
In the end Caledonia remained winless after four league games and occupies ninth place with one point, the same as cellar-positioned Club Sando.
Results
Morvant Caledonia United 1 (Sheldon Holder 50’) vs St. Ann’s Rangers 2 (Sayid Freitas 16’ penalty, 20’)
Police FC 3 (Kareem Freitas 68’, Makesi Lewis 85’, 87’) vs San Juan Jabloteh 3 (Jamal Gay 7’, 79’, Nathan Lewis 13’)
Teams
Morvant Caledonia United: 1.Marvin Phillip; 4.Ordelle Flemming, 10.Sheldon Holder, 12.Kareem Joseph, 13.Kyle Bartholomew (20.Jamaal Harvey 76th), 14.Kennedy Isles (Yellow Card) (24.Gregory President 76th), 15.Otev Lawrence (Yellow Card), 18.Akeem Roach, 21.Densill Theobald (Yellow Card), 22.Jameel Neptune, 23.Shaquille Edwards (11.Abdallah Phillips 33th)
Unused substitutes: 3.Ranaldo Bailey, 5.Daniel Whyte, 29.Kareem Knights, 30.Anthony Whyte (GK)
Coach: Jerry Moe
St. Ann's Rangers: 22.Christopher Biggette; 2.Shakiyl Phillip, 4.Jelani Peters (Yellow Card), 7.Sedale Mc Lean, 8.Kevon Piper, 14.Jemel Berot (9.Keron Cornwall 60th), 16.Richard Williams, 17.Kadeem Hutchinson (11.Josh Toussaint 79th) (Yellow Card), 18.Trevin Latapy (6.Shaquille Moses 68th), 19.Rasheed Simon, 23.Sayid Freitas (Capt.),
Unused substitutes: 1.Stefan Berkeley (GK), 5.Miguel Romeo, 12.Darius Ollivierra, 21.Keon Peters
Coach: Angus Eve
Match Referee: Keon Yorke
Teams
Police FC: 1.Adrian Foncette; 2.Jasimar Ashers, 6.Jibri Mc David (Yellow Card), 9.Makasi Lewis, 10.Kareem Freitas, 14.Kaaron Foster (18.Dylon King 79th), 19.Christon Thomas, 20.Elijah Belgrave, 21.Todd Ryan (Capt.), 12.Kevin Joel Lewis (15.Jameel Perry 66th), 17.Nequon Caruth
Unused substitutes: 22.Keion Paul, 5.Anton Hutchinson, 7.Wendell Joseph, 13.Ricardo Peltier, 11.Kadeem Riley
Coach: Richard Hood
San Juan Jabloteh: 35.Shemel Louison; 5.Rickcardo Harriott, 7.Jamal Gay, 10.Tyrone Charles (12.Jordan Devonish 77th), 27.Nathan Lewis, 18.Jevon Morris (Capt.) (Yellow Card), 13.Fabian Reid (Yellow Card) (23.Kennedy Hinkson 79th), 21.Aquil Selby, 16.Kaashif Thomas (17.Josiah Trimmingham 76th), 22.Caleb Sturge (Yellow Card), 4.Garth Thomas
Unused substitutes: 36.Raheem Belgrave (GK), 8.Keyon Edwards, 15.Jerome Mc Intrye
Coach: Keith Jeffrey
Match Referee: Gyasi Mc Dona