W Connection moved to the top of the Digicel Pro League standings with a comfortable 3-1 win over Courts Morvant Caledonia United when league play resumed on Friday with a double-header at Naparima College Ground in San Fernando.
Overlooked Trinidad and Tobago internationals Andre Toussaint and Hughtun Hector, and Dominica’s Briel Thomas, all scored in the first half to guide the Stuart Charles Fevrier coached-Connection to their fourth consecutive league win.
Two-time defending league champions, Central FC, also on 16 points, but now second to Connection’s superior goal-difference, can retain the lead when they take on bottom-placed Point Fortin Civic from 6:30pm today (Saturday) in the second game of a double-header at the Mahaica Oval, while third-placed San Juan Jabloteh, on 15 points, welcome St. Ann’s Rangers from 4pm in Barataria on Sunday.
Also today (Saturday) Ma Pau Stars will take on Defence Force from 4pm at the Mahaica Oval.
Club Sando, playing at home for the first time since joining the PL in 2015, snapped a three-game winless run in all competitions with a 2-1 win over Police FC in the second game of the Naparima College Ground double-header.
Akeem Humphrey snatched the winner in the 64th-minute to earn the Angus Eve-coached Sando their second league win of the 2016-2017 campaign to hurdle First Citizens Cup 2016 semi-finalists Police and Morvant Caledonia to occupy sixth position with 7 points.
Kevon Piper had given Sando a 17th-minute lead against the run of play, hitting into a vacant net on a rebound after a Keithy Simpson attempt crashed off goalkeeper Adrian Foncette’s crossbar.
But Police equalised three minutes from the half when defender Dexter Alleyne headed past Kelvin Henry from close up after the Sando ‘keeper had flung himself to keep out an initial attempt from Todd Ryan off a Kenaz Williams cross.
However, after absorbing numerous raids by Police on a muddy but grass covered surface, the hosts were back in front following a sublime Humphrey item. Set free on goal by a Piper pass from the middle, Humphrey raced into the area and touched the ball beyond an advancing Foncette before hitting into the open net for what turned out the Sando winner and Police’s fifth consecutive league loss.
Coach Richard Hood’s Lawmen did come close to finding a second equaliser on two occasions fifteen minutes from time. But Henry was brilliant in putting behind a Ryan free-kick before Alleyne headed wide from the resulting corner.
Earlier Connection, who were ousted in the First Citizens Cup quarters last weekend, got off to a flyer when Toussaint slid in to fire the Savonetta Boys ahead with a third-minute goal. The veteran attacker met a low Dimitrie Apai cross to beat Morvant Caledonia goalkeeper Stephon Seepersad for his fourth league goal this season.
Then on 27 minutes Hector, who was denied earlier by Seepersad, doubled Connection’s lead with a composed finish in a one-on-one with the goalie following a breakaway move Aikim Andrews.
Hector returned the favour on the half hour mark but Andrews attempt was denied by the bar and the follow-up strike by Toussaint was kept out at the line by Seepersad.
But Seepersad was hung out to dry again by his defence and Briel Thomas smashed in Connection’s third goal a minute before the break after Morvant Caledonia failed to clear on a corner kick.
Morvant Caledonia, who are now winless in six straight league appearances, did, however, find a consolation item in the 90th-minute though defender Seon Thomas, who smashed his effort beyond Connection goalie Terrence Lewis.
Digicel Pro League 2016-2017
Round One Match Day Seven
(Friday, November 18, 2016)
W Connection 3 (Andre Toussaint 3’, Hughtun Hector 27’, Briel Thomas 44’) vs Morvant Caledonia United 1 (Seon Thomas 89’), at Naparima College Ground, San Fernando;
Club Sando 2 (Kevon Piper 19’, Akeem Humphrey 64’) vs Police FC 1 (Dexter Alleyne 42’), at Naparima College Ground, San Fernando.
Upcoming matches
Round One Match Day Seven
(Saturday, November 19, 2016)
Mahaica Oval, Point Fortin
Ma Pau Stars vs Defence Force—4pm
Point Fortin Civic vs Central FC—6:30pm
(Sunday, November 20, 2016)
Barataria Recreation Ground, Barataria
San Juan Jabloteh vs St. Ann’s Rangers—4pm
Round One Match Day Eight
(Tuesday, November 22, 2016)
Ato Boldon Stadium
Ma Pau Stars vs Morvant Caledonia United—6pm
Defence Force vs Police FC—8pm
(Friday, November 25, 2016)
Santa Cruz Recreation Ground
San Juan Jabloteh vs W Connection—6pm
(Tuesday, November 29, 2016)
Ato Boldon Stadium
Club Sando vs Point Fortin Civic—6pm
Central FC vs St. Ann’s Rangers—8pm
Teams at Naparima College Ground on Friday
W Connection: 1.Terrence Lewis (GK), 2.Kurt Frederick, 4.Maurice Ford, 10.Dimitrie Apai, 13.Hughtun Hector, 14.Andre Toussaint (43.Malik St. Prix 75th minute), 16.Alvin Jones, 17.Aikim Andrews (20.Jamal Charles 79th minute), 21.Ronell Paul, 23.Kevon Goddard, 35.Jesus Perez.
Unused substitutes: 33.Aquelius Sylvester (GK), 8.Briel Thomas, 9.Shackiel Henry, 37.Daniel Diaz, 46.Anfernee Frederick.
Coach: Stuart Charles Fevrier
Morvant Caledonia United: 30.Stephon Seepersad (GK), 4.Ordell Flemming, 5.Seon Thomas, 6.Taje Commissiong, 7.Kordell Samuel (11.Dominic Douglas 86th minute), 12.Kareem Joseph, 14.Keron Bethelmy, 16.Amos Ramsay (10.Sheldon Holder 68th minute), 17.Akim Armstrong (Capt.), 21.Densill Theobald, 22.Jameel Neptune.
Unused substitutes: 31.Hakeem Lukas (GK), 2.Kevin Layne, 13.Jordan Devonish, 18.Maestro Mensah, 23.Lester Joseph.
Coach: Rajesh Latchoo
Referee: Cecile Hinds
Assistant Referee 1: Annaz Mohammed
Assistant Referee 2: Kyle Carabon
Fourth Official: Keilon Bacchus
Club Sando: 34.Kelvin Henry (GK), 7.Akeem Humphrey (Capt.), 8.Kevon Piper, 10.Shaquille Holder (Yellow Card), 13.Akeem Roach (5.Nical Stephens 90th minute), 16.Anderson Toussaint, 18.Trevin Latapy, 19.Leslie Joel Russell, 23.Nicholas Thomas, 27.Jayson Joseph (Yellow Card), 29.Keithy Simpson (11.Joel Kevin Lewis 63rd minute).
Unused substitutes: 1.Stefan Berkeley (GK), 4.Amrit Gildharry, 9.Keron Cornwall, 12.Michael Basdeo, 17.Jared London
Coach: Angus Eve
Police FC: 18.Adrian Foncette (GK), 6.Jibri Mc David (Yellow Card), 12.Kareem Riley, 17.Dexter Alleyne, 19.Christon Thomas, 20.Elijah Belgrave, 21.Todd Ryan (Capt.), 23.Micah Lewis (10.Kareem Freitas 46th minute), 25.Kenaz Williams (14.Kaaron Foster 71st minute), 38.Nequan Caruth (Yellow Card), 39.Joshua Leach (16.Keion Wilson 60th minute).
Unused substitutes: 2.Akiel Thomas, 8.Kurdell Brathwaite, 13.Dillon Kirton, 22.Theon Browne (GK).
Coach: Richard Hood
Referee: Gordon Maloney
Assistant Referee 1: Kevin Lewis
Assistant Referee 2: Caleb Wales
Fourth Official: Dennis Changiah