Police FC on Friday night became only the third team this season, after San Juan Jabloteh and North East Stars, to defeat defending Digicel League champions Central FC in league.
Dreadfully it was an own goal eight minutes before the break that snapped the “Couva Sharks”’ 15-game undefeated streak in all competitions achieved under the promotion of assistant coach Dale Saunders to head coach after sacking Ross Russell in mid-December.
An errant clearance in desperation by Central right-back Kaydion Gabriel and out-of-sorts second choice goalkeeper Akel Clarke misjudging the high ball, allowed it to fall into his goal despite his last ditch effort to pull off a save.
Central, who entered the game on a 9-game winning run in all competitions, did have their chances but Police goalkeeper Adrian Foncette – denying Darren Mitchell, Sean De Silva and substitute Kadeem Corbin – did everything possible, even keeping out what would have turned out a second half own goal against his side off the boot of defender Jibri Mc David at his bottom corner following a dangerous cross by Jason Marcano.
But credit to Police, coach Richard Hood’s players were resolute even after Central had thrown in fresh firepower up front in the second half with Marcus Joseph replacing speedy winger Rundell Winchester, who made his first appearance for the “Couva Sharks” since returning following his 2015 loan stint with United States club Portland Timbers 2, and Corbin and Nicholas Dillon replacing De Silva and Leston Paul, respectively.
Police were excellent on the counterattacks but failed to capitalise beyond the final pass. The “Lawmen” did manage an excellent effort through Makesi Lewis, who turned neatly at the end of the area, but his strike with five minutes regular-time left was matched by Clarke, who stood in Central goal in place of injury-listed Jan-Michael Williams (shoulder). The T&T international ‘keeper suffered the injury on March 13 while representing Central against hosts Montego Bay United in Jamaica in their final Group 3 game of the 2016 Caribbean Club Championship, in which the “Couva Sharks” are the defending champions.
Central (46 points) however, didn't lose their six-point lead at the top of the DPL 2015/16 standings after second placed W Connection (40 points) were stunned 3-1 by North East Stars in a come-from-behind victory in the second game of the Couva double-header.
Shahdon Winchester headed Connection in front 1-0, beating Stars’ goalkeeper Glenroy Samuel on 13 minutes off a Neil Bemjamin Jr cross.
But the visitors equalised midway through the half from a Ryan Stewart free-kick before a second half brace from substitute Gorean "Ratty" Highley gave the Ross Russell coached-North East Stars their fifth consecutive league win.
Stewart levelled the score 1-1 in the 26th minute when he brilliantly swung a free-kick around the wall and the ball bounced beyond goalkeeper Terrence Lewis and into the far netting after Anthony Guppy was brought down just outside the box by 17-year-old W Connection senior team debutant Isaiah Garcia who is the cousin of 18-year-old Trinidad and Tobago latest sensation Levi Garcia.
Lewis was excellent though, later in the game, when he got glove to a superb Kerry Baptiste volley to direct it off the upright, denying the Stars’ forward his ninth goal in five games since returning to North East Stars from Central in the January/February transfer window.
Connection too were denied by the frame after Jomal Williams had slipped beyond the Stars defence and rounded goalkeeper Samuel, only to see his attempt cannon off the upright.
North East Stars though, grabbed a 2-1 lead in the 70th minute when former player Highley – just six minutes onto the pitch – slapped the right-footed strike beyond a fully stretched Lewis after picking up a pass from Guppy.
Highley then celebrated his double in the 81st minute off Guppy’s second assist by hitting past Lewis off the outside of his favoured left boot to snap Connection’s six-game undefeated run in all competitions.
North East Stars maintains fifth position with 35 points—one point ahead of sixth positioned Police FC and three points behind fourth positioned San Juan Jabloteh who will attempt their sixth straight league win when they welcome cellar-placed St. Ann’s Rangers from 6:30pm at the Barataria Recreation Ground today (Saturday April 2).
Also on today, Club Sando and Morvant Caledonia United will journey to the Guayaguayare Recreation Ground in Guayaguayare to face each other from 4pm, and from 6pm Point Fortin Civic will host third positioned Defence Force at the Mahaica Oval in Point Fortin.
Results
Police 1 (Kaydion Gabriel 38’ Own Goal) vs Central FC 0; at Ato Boldon Stadium
W Connection 1 (Shahdon Winchester 13’) vs North East Stars 3 (Ryan Stewart 26’, Gorean Highley 70’, 81’); at Ato Boldon Stadium
Teams
Police FC: 18.Adrian Foncette; 5.Anton Hutchinson, 6.Jibri Mc David, 9.Makesi Lewis, 10.Kareem Freitas (Yellow Card), 14.Kaaron Foster (Yellow Card) (8.Kurdell Braithwaite 81st minute), 15.Jameel Perry (16.Keon Wilson 69th minute) (Yellow Card), 17.Dexter Alleyne, 20.Elijah Belgrave, 21.Todd Ryan (Capt.), 26.Kadeem Riley (29.Clevon Mc Fee 60th minute)
Unused substitutes: 2.Jasimar Ashers, 24.Devon Jamerson, 30.Dylon King, 31.Theon Browne (GK)
Coach: Richard Hood
Central FC: 30.Akel Clarke; 4.Andre Ettienne, 7.Jason Marcano, 8.Sean De Silva (9.Kadeem Corbin 66th minute), 11.Darren Mitchell, 12.Jamal Jack, 15.Kaydion Gabriel, 19.Nathaniel Garcia (Yellow Card) , 22.Leston Paul (Capt.) (14.Nicholas Dillon 80th minute), 25.Elijah Manners, 77.Rundell Winchester (99.Marcus Joseph 57th minute)
Unused substitutes: 1.Javon Sample (GK), 18.Michael Darko, 26.Jem Gordon, 45.Shem Clauzel
Coach: Dale Saunders
Match Referee: Keilon Bacchus
Teams
W Connection: 1.Terrence Lewis; 2.Kurt Frederick, 9.Shahdon Winchester, 10.Jomal Williams, 11.Neil Benjamin Jr., 13.Hughtun Hector, 14.Andre Toussaint, 25.Daneil Cyrus, 26.Paolo De La Guardia Alvarez (34.Jabari Mitchell 82nd minute), 27.Jelani Peters, 40.Isaiah Garcia (4.Maurice Ford 55th minute)
Unused substitutes: 22.Aquilius Sylvester (GK), 20.Jamal Charles, 23.Kevon Goddard, 32.Isaiah Hudson 48.Zaine Pierre
Coach: Stuart Charles Fevrier
North East Stars: 32.Glenroy Samuel; 3.Kion Joseph, 5.Ryan Stewart, 6.Jean-Luc Rochford (9.Gorean Highley 64th minute), 7.Kerry Daniel (41.Reon Moore 72nd minute), 8.Anthony Guppy, 21.Neil Mitchell, 24.Adrian Noel, 26.Anthony Wolfe (Capt.) (Yellow Card), 29.Hakim Baird, 40.Kerry Baptiste (4.Jesus Perez 77th minute)
Unused substitutes: 22.Cleon John (GK), 2.Shane Hospidales, 23.Brendon Figuera, 39.Taryk Sampson
Coach: Ross Russell
Match Referee: Crystal Sobers