Digicel Pro League leaders Defence Force and second place Central FC both failed to strengthen their positions at the top—which could slip away today—after suffering 1-0 defeats last night.
The win moved coach Richard Hood’s Lawmen up a spot to now occupy fifth with 9 points—just two points away from Defence Force and Central, both on 11 points but separated by goal-difference (+6 to +5).
Defending league champions, Central, failed to capitalise on Defence Force’s loss by suffering a 1-0 loss themselves in the second game on the night and both teams can slip off the top after previous leaders North East Stars (10 points) tackle Morvant Caledonia United from 3:30 pm at the Larry Gomes Stadium today (Saturday).
Former Central FC winger Tyrone Charles, who rattled the upright from a 30-yard free-kick seven minutes into the match, scored the winner in the 66th minute to earn Jabloteh full points over the Couva Sharks.
Charles, unleashed by a long ball forward from Fabien Reid, showed good speed, strength and determination when he outmuscled defender Kaydion Gabriel to slip the ball beyond goalkeeper Jan-Michael Williams and into the net from just inside the area for his seventh goal in all competitions this season.
Surely, the win was a boost in ego for Jabloteh coach Keith Jeffrey, who, last month, referred to Central the “old Jabloteh” due to the fact that their roster boasts quite a number of former Jabloteh players.
Central, without veteran creative midfielder Marvin Oliver, failed to create much tempo, while Jabloteh seemed well-drilled when it came to swamping their area defensively with green shirts whenever the Couva Sharks attacked.
Central, coached by Ross Russell, conjured a few late attempts—twice from Plaza and once from substitute Darren Mitchell—but other than Plaza’s half-volley strike in the 82nd minute, none troubled Jabloteh goalie Shemel Louison, who also did well to put behind a left-footed strike from Marcus Joseph four minutes from the break.
Jabloteh, now on 10 points as third place North East Stars, moved up a spot on the ladder into fourth, previously held W Connection (7 points), who must welcome seventh place St. Ann’s Rangers (5 points) from 6 pm at the Ato Boldon Stadium today (Saturday) following a 4 pm kick-off between Club Sando and Point Fortin Civic at the Couva venue.
Defence Force, coming off Wednesday’s impressive 5-1 win over Civic, were left ruing a basket of missed chances last night while Police were celebrating full points.
Police’s liveliest player on the night, Christon Thomas, had circled Defence Force defender Marvin Jones before playing in striker Makesi Lewis inside the box. Lewis controlled the ball off his right boot before firing beyond goalkeeper Sheldon Clarke and into the back of the net off his left boot with 24 minutes left.
Jones was later ejected by referee Keon Yorke, who initially awarded the defender a yellow card for diving. But followed up with the red card for dissent, reducing Defence Force to 10 men with six minutes of regular time left.
However that wasn’t the real disappointment for Defence Force, who had ample opportunity for maximum points.
The Marvin Gordon coached-Defence Force were denied by the frame three times within the first 8 minutes of play.
Devorn Jorsling missed out on a gift of an opportunity seconds into the match when his right-footed attempt cannoned off the upright running onto a neat Kerry Joseph defence-splitting pass and skipping away from Police goalkeeper Adrian Foncette.
Jorsling, who, in the 64th minute directed a free-kick onto the upright, also had a 7th minute deflected strike skid off the upright.
Then from the resulting corner swung in by Joseph, a cheeky flick off the outside of Jerwyn Balthazar’s boot at the near post, struck the frame.
But it wasn’t only the frame that stood in Defence Force’s way. Foncette made three saves in the second half, denying Dave Long, Jorsling and Joseph to keep a clean sheet before teammate Makesi Lewis’ winner.
Results
Police FC 1 (Makesi Lewis 70’) vs Defence Force 0
San Juan Jabloteh 0 (Tyrone Charles 66’) vs Central FC 0
Teams
Police FC: 1.Adrian Foncette; 2.Jasimar Ashers, 4.Karlon Murray, 6.Jibri Mc David (8.Kurdell Braithwaite 90th), 9.Makasi Lewis, 10.Kareem Freitas 16.Keon Wilson 80th), 14.Kaaron Foster, 19.Christon Thomas, 20.Elijah Belgrave, 21.Todd Ryan (Capt.), 17.Nequan Caruth
Unused substitutes: 22.Keinol Paul (GK), 13.Ricardo Peltier, 12.Kevin Joel Lewis, 15.Jameel Perry, 18.Dylon King
Coach: Richard Hood
Defence Force: 25.Sheldon Clarke; 4.Dave Long, 6.Rodell Elcock, 8.Curtis Gonzales, 17.Ross Russell Jr., 12.Jemel Sebro (7.Jelani Felix 33th), 99.Jerwyn Balthazar (Capt.), 9.Devorn Jorsling, 23.Kerry Joseph (52.Stephan Campbell 86th), 30.Kishun Seecharan, 13.Marvin Jones
Unused substitutes: 80.Aaron Enill (GK), 2.Glynn Franklyn, 16.Kellon Serette, 18.Sean Narcis, 21.Aklie Edwards
Coach: Marvin Gordon
Match Referee: Keon Yorke
Teams
San Juan Jabloteh: 35.Shemel Louison; 5.Rickcardo Harriott, 7.Jamal Gay, 8.Keyon Edwards, 10.Tyrone Charles (16.Kaashif Thomas 84th), 18.Jevon Morris, 13.Fabian Reid, 21.Aquil Selby, 4.Garth Thomas (22.Caleb Sturge 70th), 24.Adrian Reid, Damian Williams (Capt.)
Unused substitutes: 36.Raheem Belgrave (GK), 6.Ramone Mc Gregor, 12.Jordan Devonish, 15.Jerome Mc Intrye
Coach: Keith Jeffrey
Central FC: 21.Jan-Michael Williams (Capt.); 3.Keion Goodridge, 4.Andre Ettienne, 7.Jason Marcano (19.Nathaniel Garcia 70th), 8.Sean De Silva (11.Darren Mitchell 70th), 12.Jamal Jack, 15.Kaydion Gabriel, 25.Elijah Manners, 33.Willis Plaza, 45.Ataullah Guerra, 99.Marcus Joseph (6.Kerry Baptiste 80th)
Unused substitutes: 5.Akeem Benjamin, 30.Akel Clarke (GK), 26.Mickaeel Jem Gordon, 23.Jean-Luc Rochford
Coach: Ross Russell
Match Referee: Gordon Maloney