Makesi Lewis scored the third hat-trick of the season on Wednesday night as Police FC rebounded from an early deficit to whip St. Ann’s Rangers 6-1 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
Central were edged 1-0 by North East Stars, who moved up two spots to occupy third on 13 points with San Juan Jabloteh – both one point away from leaders Defence Force – through an own-goal credited to Couva Sharks defender Kevon Villaroel in the 43rd minute.
Stars, with a creditable performance on the night, held on for the win, while Central had themselves to blame after wasted chances, resulting in their second consecutive league defeat.
In the earlier match however, Police recorded their second consecutive win in the league in a lopsided affair although Rangers had a 1-0 lead in just the 4th minute of play when defender Jelani Peters headed a Miguel Romeo free-kick past goalkeeper Adrian Foncette.
Forward Kareem Freitas, younger brother of Rangers midfielder Sayid Freitas, levelled Police 1-1 in the 25th minute with his fifth goal of the season in all competitions.
Freitas slid in at the back post to put the ball over the line after a Jibri Mc David right side cross was flicked beyond goalkeeper Christopher Biggette.
It was downhill from there on for Rangers, especially Biggette and his defence.
Police utility player Christon Thomas made it 2-1 in the 27th minute with a cracker from 24 yards out to beat Biggette.
Two minutes later and Biggette was beaten again from distance when Makesi Lewis executed a blast of his own, for his first item on the night and a 3-1 Police cushion.
Lewis got to his second for a 4-1 score four minutes before the break by smashing the ball past Biggette at the far post after Kurdell Brathwaite headed on a Dylon King corner.
Brathwaite had started in midfield in place of captain and veteran Todd Ryan, who picked up an injury during the pre-game warm-up.
It clearly didn’t affect the night for Police although losing substitute and scorer Anton Hutchinson to a successive yellow cards.
Makesi Lewis, from an Elijah Belgrave cross in the 69 minute, completed his hat-trick with his 11th goal in all competitions this season before Hutchinson made it 6-1 in the 73rd minute.
W Connection’s Jomal Williams and San Juan Jabloteh’s Jamal Gay are the only other two players to have scored hat-tricks this season in all competitions, while North East Stars’ Jomoul Francois and Club Sando’s Kevon Woodley are with a beaver-trick each.
Hutchinson, however, who replaced Jasimar Ashers in the 46th minute, will miss Friday’s clash with Club Sando from 6 pm at the Ato Boldon Stadium in their final match before the Christmas break.
Hutchinson was issued a second yellow card two minutes after scoring for a foul, reducing coach Richard Hood’s Lawmen to 10 men.
Also on Friday at the Couva venue, W Connection will tackle San Juan Jabloteh from 8 pm.
The action continues on Saturday before heading into the break. At the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Defence Force will face North East Stars from 4 pm prior to a 6 pm kick-off between St. Ann’s Rangers and Point Fortin Civic. Also on Saturday, Morvant Caledonia United will take on Central FC from 3:30 pm.
Results
St. Ann's Rangers 1 (Jelani Peters 4’) vs Police FC 6 (Kareem Freitas 25’, Christon Thomas 27’, Makesi Lewis 29’, 42’, 69’, Anton Hutchinson 73’)
North East Stars 1 (Own Goal 43’) vs Central FC 0
Teams
St. Ann’s Rangers: 22.Christopher Biggette; 2.Shakiyl Phillip, 4.Jelani Peters, 5.Miguel Romeo (Capt.), 6.Shaquille Moses, 7.Sedale MC Lean, 9.Keron Cornwall, 12.Darius Ollivierra (8.Kevon Piper 46), 16.Richard Williams, 18.Trevin Latapy (17.Kadeem Hutchinson 57th), 23.Sayid Freitas (21.Keon Peters 78th)
Unused substitutes: 1.Stefan Berkeley (GK), 30.Chevon Legendre, 11.Josh Toussaint
Coach: Angus Eve
Police FC: 1.Adrian Foncette; 2. Jasimar Ashers (5.Anton Hutchinson 46th), 4.Karlon Murray, 6.Jibri Mc David, 8.Kurdell Brathwaite (3.Kadeem Boyce 74th), 9.Makesi Lewis, 10.Kareem Freitas, 19.Christon Thomas (11.Shaquille Nesbitt minute 67th), 20.Elijah Belgrave, 12.Kevin Lewis, 18.Dylon King
Unused substitutes: 13.Ricardo Peltier, 15.Jameel Perry, 16.Keon Wilson, 22.Keinol Paul (GK)
Coach: Richard Hood