Adrian Welch got the lone goal as three-time T&T Pro League champions Defence Force remained on course for a first league crown since 2012-2013 after edging W Connection 1-0 in the opening match of a double-header at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva on Sunday.
Following a goalless first-half, Welch netted the game's lone item in the 59th to secure all three points for the Army/Coast-Guard combination to move to 35 points from 14 matches, nine clear of Terminix La Horquetta Rangers with both teams having six matches each left to play.
Third-placed Police FC has 23 points from 15 matches, two more than the trio of six-time league champions W Connection, Morvant Caledonia United and Pt Fortin Civic, who have all played 14 matches as well.
In the night's second match-up, Tiger Tanks Club Sando got a goal each from Shaqkeem Joseph and former US-based national striker, Trevin Caesar to blank three-time league winners Central FC 2-0.
Joseph got the opening item in the 32nd minute and 20 minutes from full-time Caesar, who last played in Albania with SC Gjilani fired in the insurance item.
Tonight, (Tuesday, March 3), La Horquetta Rangers will have a chance to trim Defence Force back to six points when they entertain third-placed Police FC from 7 pm at the La Horquetta Recreation Ground, Phase II, La Horquetta while Cunupia FC and AC Port-of-Spain, the two bottom-placed clubs meet at Couva from 7 pm as well.
And tomorrow (Wednesday, March 4), Defence Force plays Jabloteh at Couva from 6 pm followed by Morvant Caledonia and Central FC at the same venue two hours later, while Point Fortin Civic hosts Club Sando at Mahaica Oval.
Full Results
Sunday March 1st
W Connection 0 v Defence Force 1 (Arian Welch 59), 4pm, Ato Boldon Stadium
Club Sando 2 (Shaqkeem Joseph 32, Trevin Caesar 70) v Central FC 0, 6pm, Ato Boldon Stadium
Latest Team Standings
P W D L F A GD Pts
1 Defence Force FC 14 11 2 1 25 11 +14 35
2 La Horquetta Rangers 14 8 2 4 41 18 +23 26
3 Police FC 15 6 5 4 28 16 +12 23
4 W Connection 14 6 3 5 23 20 +3 21
5 Morvant Caledonia United 14 5 6 3 17 17 0 21
6 Point Fortin Civic 14 6 3 5 19 21 -2 21
7 Club Sando 15 5 4 6 23 19 +4 19
8 San Juan Jabloteh 15 4 4 7 19 29 -10 16
9 Central FC 15 3 4 9 15 26 -11 13
10 AC Port of Spain 14 3 4 7 17 33 -16 13
11 Cunupia FC 14 1 5 8 11 28 -17 8
Upcoming Matches.
Today's Matches
Cunupia FC vs AC Port-of-Spain, Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, 7 pm
La Horquetta Rangers vs Police FC, La Horquetta Rec. Grd, 7 pm
Tomorrow
San Juan Jabloteh vs Defence Force, Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, 6 pm
Morvant Caledonia United vs Central FC, Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, 8 pm
Point Fortin Civic vs Club Sando, Mahaica Oval, Point Fortin 7 pm