San Juan Jabloteh have two reasons to be joyous about after Tuesday’s rescheduled Round Two Match Day Nine clash against Joe Public at the Hasely Crawford Stadium which they won 2-1 in the second match of a double header.
Jabloteh’s next reason to smile is that they are now four points clear of their closest challengers W Connection—Jabloteh on top of the standings are with 37 points.
Forbes netted his first in the 35th minute to equalize 1-1 heading past goalkeeper Alejandro Figueroa from inside the area off Trent Noel’s 22yard free kick after Lester Peltier was ruled to be fouled by Peterson Desrivieres.
But it was the heroes of the CONCACAF Champions League playoffs against New England Revolution, Joe Public, who started brightly, with Guyanese forward Gregory Richardson continuing his fine goalscoring form to punch the Lions 1-0 ahead in the 22nd minute. Richardson finished a volley after Roen Nelson’s initial header on goal rebounded off the crossbar to fall perfectly for the Guyanese to finish.
Six minutes into the second half Forbes struck the winning item and his second of the match for a 2-1 score. Figueroa, who made a great block seconds earlier on Forbes, failed to deny the powerfully built forward in the 51st minute when he smashed a low left-footed shot under the Joe Public custodian to finish at far post.
Joe Public held the edge with their speedy approach but an equalising item seemed farfetched.
Jabloteh’s Cleon John proved why he is first choice in goal for the Kings denying Roen Nelson at point blank range after the Jamaican blasted on goal from Lyndon Andrews right side cross.
Joe Public head coach added more artillery in the closing 15 minutes with Gary Glasgow and Shane Calderon in attack but the 2-1 scoreline remained in favor of the current League leaders San Juan Jabloteh.
Joe Public dropped one spot into seventh on the League standings with 24 points after North East Stars in the earlier match at the Hasely Crawford Stadium edged Tobago United 1-0 to move into fifth with 26 points.
Jerome notches late winner for Stars over Tobago.
By: Randy Bando (ttporleague).
Sangre Grande based North East Stars moved two places up the TT Pro League standings into 5th after edging Tobago United 1-0 in a rescheduled Round Two Match Day Eight fixture on Tuesday at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
Guyanese forward Randolph Jerome came off the bench late to win and score a penalty 11 minutes from time giving his team maximum points against the stubborn Tobagonians.
The win can be considered pride restoration, after it was Tobago United that knocked the Stars out of the First Citizens Cup qualifiers last week Tuesday with a 2-1 win.
North East Stars had a couple early chances against Tobago United with Linsie Sherwood and Sylvester Teesdale both finishing just wide of the mark.
However it was North East Stars who had to breathe a sigh of relief when Tobago’s Kayode McKinnon’s 24 yard free kick clipped the cross bar and out of play in the 23rd minute.
The Tobagonians then suffered a blow five minutes before the halftime whistle when goalkeeper Richard Reynolds had to be stretchered off to seek medical attention, putting an end to his Tuesday night performance.
Reynolds was accidentally kicked in the chest after a defiant effort to strip Teesdale of the ball as the striker made his way towards goal.
Reynolds’ replacement Javid Joseph had to be alert on his arrival and did enough to keep out Kevin Jeffery’s 55 yard effort on goal in stoppage time of the first half.
North East Stars proved the better of both teams restricting Tobago in their own half for most of the second period.
Marc Leslie had two efforts on target in less than a minute, inside the last 30 minutes, but Javid Joseph was well positioned on both occasions to collect without much problems.
Then came Jerome’s winning performance, after being brought down inside the area in efforts to connect to an inside pass, which the match referee didn’t hesitate to point to the spot. Jerome gathered himself to comfortable slap home from the spot beating Javid Joseph who went the right direction, but was beaten by pace.
Tobago’s Collie Hurcules call for a penalty in the 87th minute only resulted in a free kick just outside the area after the match referee adjudged the foul to take place outside the area. The resulting free kick was hit directly into the North East wall before being cleared to safety.
Tobago had one last effort in the final minute of play but Kayode Legall’s glancing header flew a fraction wide of goalkeeper Andrew Durrant’s far post.
North East Stars are now fifth with 26 points, ahead of United Petrotrin with goals difference. Meantime Tobago United remain in ninth with 12 points.