Pro League leaders W Connection were yesterday held to a goalless stalemate against a depleted Defence Force FC side, dropping points for a fourth consecutive time and allowing Police FC, 4-1 winners over minnows Point Fortin Civic, to narrow the gap to four points.
Connection, undefeated in the league this season, however continue to lead the table with 30 points, while Police (26 points) hurdled Central FC (24 points) for second after the “Couva Sharks” were tamed by a 2-1 come-from-behind win by Morvant Caledonia United, a side now undefeated in their last six outings, in the first game of a double-header at Hasely Crawford Stadium.
Jamaica’s Ewan Grandison fired the “Couva Sharks” in front after 26 minutes, but former Canada-based winger Aikim Andrews levelled hosts Morvant Caledonia ten minutes later before Guyana international Sheldon Holder snatched the eventual winner four minutes from the half.
Kareem Freitas (14, 43 & 73), in the second game at the Mucurapo Road venue, netted his first hat-trick of the season for his 10th, 11th and 12th league goals to move one more than Connection’s Marcus Joseph and Central’s Akim Armstrong. Jameel Perry (71) was also on target for the “Lawmen” while Tobagonian forward Mickaeel Jem Gordon (50) scored the lone Civic item.
Connection were unable to join the goal-rush with substitute Kevon Goddard closest to separating Stuart Charles Fevrier’s men from Defence Force when his 72nd-minute effort crashed off the upright in the second game at Ato Boldon Stadium.
Earlier at the Couva venue, Tyrone Charles scored a first half brace but his side, Club Sando, needed a stoppage-time winner from the eventual hat-trick hero to snare a dramatic 3-2 win over his ex-club San Juan Jabloteh.
Charles, now on target in each of Sando’s last four outings, opened the scoring against Jabloteh by chipping goalkeeper Shemel Louison from the left in the seventh minute and reached his double by the 41st minute with a cool finish past the Grenada international after a win and feed by Akeem Humphrey.
But defender Jamal Spencer halved the Jabloteh deficit two minutes later to celebrate his first top-flight goal, and Jomoul Francois, with his eight league goal of the campaign, looked to have earned Jabloteh a hard-worked point on 89 minutes when he fired into the roof of Kelvin Henry’s net.
But Louison’s spill on another Charles effort deep into stoppage time saw the ball enter the net off the post and Sando taking away full points thanks to their in-form forward.
Charles now leads the race for the Golden Boot with 13 league goals and would to continue his rich form when the Pro League continues next weekend.
Pro League 2018
Round Two Match Day Five results
(Friday 02 November)
Morvant Caledonia United 2 (Aikim Andrews 35’ Sheldon Holder 41’) vs Central FC 1 (Ewan Grandison 26’), at Hasely Crawford Stadium;
Police FC 4 (Kareem Freitas 14’ pen., 43’, 73’, Jameel Perry 71’) vs Point Fortin Civic 1 (Mickaeel Jem Gordon 50’), at Hasely Crawford Stadium;
Club Sando 3 (Tyrone Charles 7’, 41’, 90’+3) vs San Juan Jabloteh 2 (Jamal Spencer 43’, Jomoul Francois 89’), at Ato Boldon Stadium;
W Connection 0 vs Defence Force FC 0, at Ato Boldon Stadium.
Terminix St. Ann’s Rangers vs North East Stars (CANCELLED)
Pro League 2018 standings
# Team MP W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 W Connection 14 8 6 0 30 6 24 30
2 Police FC 14 8 2 4 28 16 12 26
3 Central FC 14 7 3 4 32 22 10 24
4 Club Sando 14 7 3 4 29 21 8 24
5 San Juan Jabloteh 14 7 2 5 21 17 4 23
6 Defence Force FC 13 6 3 4 28 16 12 21
7 Morvant Caledonia Utd 14 5 6 3 28 18 10 21
8 Point Fortin Civic 14 2 2 10 16 32 -16 8
9 North East Stars 12 1 3 8 11 33 -22 6
10 Terminix St. Ann’s Rangers 13 2 0 11 6 48 -42 6
Teams at the Ato Boldon Stadium on Friday
Game 1
Club Sando: 34.Kelvin Henry (GK); 6.Kemuel Rivers, 7.Akeem Humphrey, 10.Keron Cornwall (11.Jabari Mitchell 36th minute), 12.Michael Basdeo (8.Kevon Piper 74th minute), 17.Tyrone Charles, 18.Aaron Kennedy, 23.Nicholas Thomas (Capt.), 25.Aaquil Campbell (13.Shakiyl Phillip 69th minute), 27.Jayson Joseph, 44.Josiah Trimmingham.
Unused substitutes: 1.Stefan Berkley (GK); 9.Shackiel Henry, 19.Quinn Rodney, 20.Tigana Sparks.
Coach: Angus Eve
San Juan Jabloteh: 30.Shemel louison (GK); 4.Nical Stephens (18.Jevon Morris 71st minute), 5.Kevon Villaroel, 10.Jomoul Francois, 14.Tyrese Bailey (8.Jason Marcano 53rd minute), 15.Dillon Jagessar, 16.Jamal Spencer, 20.Elton John (Capt.), 19.Joel Lewis, 24.Kareem Eastman (11.Darren Mitchell 56th minute), 27.Jamal Creighton.
Unused substitutes: 1.Christopher Biggette (GGK); 12.Keron Bethelmy, 23.Jodel Brown, 26.Akeem Benjamin.
Coach: Keith Jeffrey
Match Officials
Referee: Rodphin Harris
Assistant Referee 1: Anton Gill
Assistant Referee 2: Keron Myers
Fourth Official: Cecile Hinds
Match Commissioner: Cassie Moore
Game 2
W Connection: 18.Julani Archibald (GK), 3.Gerard Williams (Capt.), 7.Jomal Williams, 9.Kadeem Corbin, 11.Adan Noel (23.Kennedy Hinkson 64th minute), 13.Caleb Sturge, 15.Otev Lawrence, 16.Alvin Jones, 19.Briel Thomas, 27.Kierron Mason (6.Kevon Goddard 66th minute), 99.Marcus Joseph.
Unused substitutes: 33.Jason Belfon (GK); 8.Jameel Antoine, 26.Isaiah Garcia, 32.Salas Cannonier, 34.Cephas St. Rose.
Coach: Stuart Charles-Fevrier
Defence Force FC: 80.Aaron Enil (GK); 2.Kevon Blackman, 4.Dave Long (20.Levi Serries 59th minute), 6.Rodell Elcock, 10.Hashim Arcia, 12.Jemel Sebro, 13.Marvin Jones (77.Kendell Hitlal 78th minute), 16.Kellon Serrette, 27.Aaron Foster, 70.Adrian Welch, 99.Jerwyn Balthazar.
Unused substitutes: 1.Andre Marchan (GK); 8.Christoher Durity, 9.Devorn Jorsling, 19.Thurlani George, 23.Kerry Joseph.
Coach: Marvin Gordon
Match Officials
Referee: Joel Cox
Assistant Referee 1: John Barkley
Assistant Referee 2: Rondell Bowen
Fourth Official: Cecile Hinds
Match Commissioner: Wayne Caesar