Akeem Roach scored with a minute of regulation-time left to give Defence Force a 2-1 win over home side Point Fortin Civic on Saturday at the Mahaica Oval.
Defending champions Central, with a game in hand, are atop the standings with 46 points while Connection (40 points) slipped a spot into third.
Forward Kellon Serrette had given Defence Force a 1-0 lead in the 28th minute but Civic winger Akeem Redhead put the home side level 1-1 on 56 minutes.
It was not until the 89th minute that Roach, with his first Defence Force goal this season since returning in the January/February transfer window following a stint with Morvant Caledonia United, handed coach Marvin Gordon’s side the winner as Civic, occupying ninth with 16 points, conceded a fourth straight loss.
Cellar positioned St. Ann’s Rangers meanwhile picked up their 11th point of the 2015/16 campaign on Saturday with a 1-1 draw against home side San Juan Jabloteh.
Nathan Lewis scored in the 88th minute to pull Jabloteh level and avoid defeat at the Barataria Recreation Ground, but not enough to give the “San Juan Kings” a sixth straight win.
Rangers had led from the 38th minute thanks to a Trevin Latapy strike, but the visitors failed to stop the in-form Lewis with two minutes left and the attacker snatched his 11th goal of the season while remaining the only Jabloteh player to score on the Barataria this season. Lewis has four goals in the three games in Barataria.
Jabloteh (39 points) remain fourth, one point behind Connection while North East Stars (35 points and Police (34 points) occupy fifth and sixth positions, respectively.
Ten points away and occupying seventh position are Club Sando, who were held to a 2-2 draw with Morvant Caledonia United at the Guayaguayare Recreation Ground.
Sando had led 2-0 at the break following a quick double by Devon Modeste netting in the 24th and 27th minutes against his ex-employers. But Caledonia rallied to a 2-2 draw through a goal each from Pernell Schultz and Kareem Joseph in the 47th and 83rd minutes, respectively.
Results
Club Sando 2 (Devon Modeste 24', 27') vs Morvant Caledonia United 2 (Pernell Schultz 47', Kareem Joseph 83'), at Guayaguayare Recreation Ground;
Point Fortin Civic 1 (Akeem Redhead 56') vs Defence Force 2 (Kellon Serrette 28', Akeem Roach 89'), at Mahaica Oval;
San Juan Jabloteh 1 (Nathan Lewis 88') vs St. Ann's Rangers 1 (Trevin Latapy 38'), at Barataria Recreation Ground.