San Juan Jabloteh walked away with maximum three points on Saturday afternoon with a 3-2 win, but not as Kings after nervously avoiding a courageous claw back attempt by cellar-placed St. Ann’s Rangers.
However Sangre Grande-based Stars will attempt a return to the top-four when they welcome third-place W Connection from 3:30 p.m. at the Larry Gomes Stadium on Sunday.
Nineteen-year-old Jabloteh attacker Sean Bonval scored one and set up another, scored by Jamal Gay, for an early two-goal cushion before Jamaican defender Adrian Reid made it 3-0 from the penalty spot before the break.
But Rangers, possibly triggered by the half-time advice from coach Angus Eve, stormed back in the second half with goals from Keron Cornwall and Kadeem Hutchinson, and were denied an equalising goal two minutes from time by Jabloteh goalie Shemel Louison.
Bonval, a former Rangers youth player, handed the San Juan Kings a 1-0 lead just six minutes into the clash at the Larry Gomes Stadium with a curling strike from the edge of the box to beat Rangers goalkeeper Christopher Biggette.
And striker Jamal Gay made it 2-0 on 15 minutes with a simple finish into Biggette’s far bottom corner following a feed from Bonval.
It seemed the end for Rangers six minutes from the half when Adrian Reid converted from the penalty spot for a 3-0 score after Jordan Devonish was tripped inside the area by defender Shaquille Moses.
But just three minutes inside the second period Cornwall reduced the Rangers’ deficit 1-3 with a delightful free-kick goal from 25 yards out.
Then on 63 minutes Hutchinson added a second Rangers’ item for a 3-2 score when his strike from close range had too much sting for the glove of Louison.
However it was Louison that had the last say, denying midfielder Kevon Piper from close range in the 88th minute as Jabloteh held on for the win.
It was Piper’s third on-target attempt on the afternoon after his 21st minute strike was cleared off the line by defender Adrian Reid and four minutes later saw his header tipped overbar by Louison.
Despite their spirited effort, Rangers remain at the bottom with 9 points.
Results
St. Ann’s Rangers 2 (Keron Cornwall 48', Kadeem Hutchinson 63') vs San Juan Jabloteh 3 (Sean Bonval 6’, Jamal Gay 15’, Adrian Reid 39' penalty) at the Larry Gomes Stadium
Teams
St. Ann’s Rangers: 22.Christopher Biggette; 2.Shakiyl Phillip (Capt.), 6.Shaquille Moses, 7.Sedale Mc Lean, 8.Kevon Piper, 9.Keron Cornwall, 16.Richard Williams, 17.Kadeem Hutchinson, 18.Trevin Latapy, 23.Sayid Freitas (21.Keon Peters 46th minute), 29.Jameel Antoine
Unused substitutes: 1.Stefan Berkeley (GK), 30.Chevon Legendre
Coach: Angus Eve
San Juan Jabloteh: 30.Shemel Louison; 4.Garth Thomas, 8.Keyon Edwards (13.Fabian Reid 74th minute), 7.Jamal Gay, 23.Kennedy Hinkson, 9.Brent Sam (3.Lincoln Burns 65th minute), 12.Jordan Devonish (19.Douglas Dominic 93rd minute), 14.Sean Bonval, 15.Jerome Mc Intyre, 24.Adrian Reid, 11.Damian Williams (Capt.)
Unused substitutes: 35.Andrew Durant (GK)
Coach: Keith Jeffrey
Match Referee: Gordon Maloney