Marcano! Marcano! Marcano! Central FC can dance to their fundraising boat party, “Bitten”, on Saturday night aboard the Habour Master after stretching a seven-point lead at the top of the Digicel Pro League to move within one win from retaining the crown.
San Juan Jabloteh, who must face Central when the league resumes in May, are second with 45 points and currently stands with the best mathematical chance at hurdling the “Couva Sharks” for top spot. Central will complete their games against North East Stars and St. Ann’s Rangers.
W Connection are third with 43 points, followed by Defence Force (42 points) and North East Stars (41 points).
Central coach Dale Saunders made no changes to his starting line-up that defeated Morvant Caledonia United 3-0 on Tuesday, to return to winning ways after a two-game losing spell in the league, and it paid off.
Marcano scored his first in the 35th minute to hand Central a 1-0 lead which the “Sharks” held to the break.
Marcano, who had gotten close twice earlier and had an effort kept out by Kelvin Henry, beat the Sando goalie on the rebound after Henry had blocked out an attempt from Ricardo John.
Henry was well-positioned a minute before the break to keep out a Sean De Silva attempt following a feed from John. And well into the second half the Sando shot-stopper was brilliant again, putting behind a strike from above the box by Corbin.
But from the resulting corner kick, Marcano headed past Henry at the back post to give Central a 2-0 cushion in the 64th minute after De Silva's cross had beaten a handful of players.
Sando were halfway back four minutes later when midfielder Akeem Humphrey thumped a low strike to beat goalkeeper Akel Clarke from the top of the area – slicing the deficit 1-2.
However Marcano completed his hat-trick in the 79th minute with his 12th league goal this season to put his side 3-1 ahead.
Marcano pounced on a back pass by Sando defender Kevon Neaves and showed excellent fortitude, after being hacked down outside the box by Henry, to spring to life again and enter the area with the ball before firing into an open net.
Sando’s troubles worsened a minute later when Grenada national team defender Shannon Phillip saw red for a dangerous tackle on Central substitute forward Nicholas Dillon.
The night, however, was not over for Sando and their goalkeeper Henry who made a stoppage-time save to deny De Silva after Dillion had knocked down a Marcano cross to the onrushing midfielder.
Central finally found their fourth goal in the second minute of stoppage-time for the 4-1 finish when Corbin slid in to put a Dillon strike over the line after the latter had rounded goalkeeper Henry.
Central will next focus on their Caribbean crown defence, when they travel to Haiti next week for the final round of the Caribbean Club Championship 2016 along with last season's runners-up W Connection.
Connection will take on Jamaica's Arnett Gardens and Central are against host club Don Bosco FC in the semi-final round on Friday April 29 at the Stade Sylvio Cato, with both winners securing Concacaf Champions League spots for the 2016/17 season.
The Caribbean final, and third place play-off which will determine the third and final Caribbean spot at the Concacaf Champions League, will be contested on Sunday May 1.
Central are hosting Saturday's (tonight) "Bitten" boat party as part of their fundraising efforts to travel to Haiti next week. Boarding for the Harbour Master begins at 11pm and returns at 3am. Persons interested in tickets – which cost $200 – are asked to contact the club’s Facebook page Central FC Fan Club.
W Connection, meanwhile, are after their third major domestic title this season – after the First Citizens Cup and Toyota Classic – when they take on Caledonia in the final of the Lucozade Sport Goal Shield 2016 from 6pm at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on Sunday April 24.
Results
Central FC 4 (Jason Marcano 35', 64', 79', Kadeem Corbin 90'+2) vs Club Sando 1 (Akeem Humphrey 68'), at the Hasely Crawford Stadium
Teams
Central FC: 30.Akel Clarke; 4.Andre Ettienne, 7.Jason Marcano, 8.Sean De Silva, 11.Darren Mitchell, 12.Jamal Jack, 15.Kaydion Gabriel, 22.Leston Paul (Capt.) (19.Nathaniel Garcia 46th minute) (Yellow Card), 24.Kevon Villaroel, 45.Ricardo John (14.Nicholas Dillon 77th minute), 99.Marcus Joseph (9.Kadeem Corbin 54th minute)
Unused substitutes: 1.Javon Sample (GK), 18.Michael Yaw Darko, 25.Elijah Manners, 26.Jem Gordon, 77.Rundell Winchester
Coach: Dale Saunders
Club Sando: 34.Kelvin Henry (Capt.); 3.Shannon Phillip (Red Card), 4.Moron Phillip, 6.Kemuel Rivers, 7.Akeem Humphrey, 9.Jesse Downing, 10.Kevon Neaves (26.Shaquille Holder 82nd minute), 17.Jared London, 22.Coneal Thomas, 24.Devon Modeste, 38.Michael Basdeo (20.Rickson Phillip 70th minute)
Unused substitutes: 1.Jason Belfon (GK), 8.Levi Crawford, 15.Amrit Gildharry, 18.Khris Stroud, 29.Junior Asson
Coach: Anthony Streete
Match Referee: Gyasi Mc Donald