TT Pro League powerhouses CLICO San Juan Jabloteh and W Connection embarrassed their FA Trophy preliminary round opponents of the Central Football Association Harlem Strikers and A-Z United respectively at the Ato Boldon Stadium.
Jabloteh, winners of the 2008 Pro League Championship and Lucozade Sport Big Six titles, crushed Harlem 7-0 in the second fixture while W Connection had a handful, 5-1 against A-Z.
Up at the Hasely Crawford Stadium training ground, St Ann’s Rangers cruised past Hills United 5-0 and at the QRC Grounds Defence Force (Pro League) whipped T&T Coast Guard/Air Guard 6-0.
In the other Pro League related results neal and Massy Caledonia AIA downed Joe Public East Football Association club 2-0 at the Marvin Lee Stadium, defending FA Champions Joe Public whipped Atomic Youth Movement 3-1 at the Damarie Hill ground in Sangre Grande. And the clash between Pro League outfits United Petrotrin and North East Stars saw the Grande based club surface 1-0 winners at the Guaracara Park.
Teba McKnight opened the scoring in the 6th minute blasting past goalkeeper John Richardson from outside the area leaving the A-Z United goalie cluless as W Connection took an early grasp.
The Pro League boys where at it again with Ismael Daniel heading in W Connection’s second item past the hapless A-Z goalie from a freekick in the 17th minute for a 2-0 advantage.
And Kerron Smith made it 3-0 by the 23rd minute hitting past defender Brent Roberts after goalkeeper Richardson was left beating inside his six yard area.
Smith failed to add another in the 33rd minute when goalkeeper Richardson stuck his leg out to block out the Connection striker’s left footed effort.
Second half introduction Ronaldo Viana slipped the fourth item past Richardson from 23 yard free kick on the hour mark two minutes after Kerron Smith was denied at close range by the A-Z goalie.
A-Z then replaced goalkeeper Richardson with Gadafie Mohammed after the first choice in goal complained of a neck injury since the first period.
W Connection used the opportunity to make a couple changes themselves introducing Hughtun Hector and Dwight Scott at the expense of Andrei Pacheco and Nickcolson Thomas.
Hector got himself piece of the pie blasting past the substitute A-Z goalie Mohammed in the 77th minute powerfully from 25 yards out as the Savonnetta Boys enjoyed a healthy 5-0 score.
But 10 minutes from time A-Z was awarded a penalty after Colombian defender Eder Arias fouled Bobby Sookraj inside the area and pulled back a goal.
Sookraj made a diving header to put the ball past goalkeeper Murilo Da Costa after the W Connection goalie made a good block to keep out the initial kick from the spot as A-Z United pulled one back however the result was in favour of the Pro League outfit W Connection 5-1 in the end.
In the second encounter between the 2008 Pro League champions, Jabloteh and Harlem Strikers(CFA) the goal spree continued.
After a few wide efforts by Jabloteh, team captain Trent Noel led by example in the 35th minute piercing a right footed shot through Harlem Strikers goalie after a neat pass forward by Jason Marcano.
One minute later midfielder Atulla Guerra gave the San Juan Kings a 2-0 cushion blasting a 23 yard shot into the roof of the net after evading his man.
Harlem Strikers made one run inside the Jabloteh half in the first period but were short of the 18 yard area as the Pro League outfit dominated in full adding two more goals.
Lester Peltier made it 3-0 in the 40th minute hitting a powerful shot from inside the area and seconds later it was 4-0 when Beville Joseph walked past the Harlem Strikers defence to slip the ball past goalkeeper Ita Charles and into the net.
Jabloteh had a few late efforts midfielder Willis Plaza was wide by a couple feet of getting his name on the Jabloteh scoresheet three minutes from the break and in the 44th Trent Noel guided a as the 2008 TT pro League
Following the break Terry Fenwick never looked to back down and introduced ace forward Jerrol Forbes replacing Beville Joseph.
However Fenwick found himself out of favour with referee Phillip Jordan in the 57th minute for misconduct after disagreeing with a call made against his player by the official and was ejected from the Jabloteh bench.
But the Jabloteh charges continued adding the goals with substitute Jerrol Forbes smacking in the fifth item in the 68th minute after a brilliant run down the flank by substitute Julien Landeau to play the ball inside the area for the powerfully built forward as the Kings had total control 5-0.
And when Lester Peltier added the sixth item in the 73rd minute completing his double against Central Football Association club many would have thought that the Pro League club would be generous to settle for their 6-0 score.
But the Kings mounted even more pressure on the depleted Strikers with Marcano having a shot on goal which goalkeeper Ita Charles and Forbes flashing an effort wide.
Four minutes from time Peltier sneaked one past goalkeeper Ita Charles however denied by the upright after a blistering run down the flank.
And in the final minute of regular time Jason Marcano struck the lucky ‘seventh’ item when he looped the ball over displaced goalkeeper Ita Charles after a long clearance by Julien Landeau for a 7-0 win.
The next Round of the FA Trophy competition will come off on Sunday.
Wednesday’s Results
FA Trophy Round of 32
A to Z United 1—5 W Connection
Harlem Strikers (C.F.A.) 0—7 San Juan Jabloteh
Charlotteville United(received a bye) 3-0 National Under 20 Team
Angostura 1976 F.C.(received a bye) 3—0 Phoenix Harlem Strikers (S.L)
Harvard S.C. 2—0 Biche United
Q.P.C.C. 3—0 Strugglers F.C.
Malick Togetherness 2—1 Valencia United
Caledonia AIA 2—0 Joe Public F.C. (EFA)
T&TEC Sports Club 4—3 Roxborough Lakers
W.A.S.A. F.C. 2—1 Defence Force ( S.L.)
Siparia Spurs 1—2 Copious Suns
United Petrotrin 0—1 North East Stars F.C.
Defence Force (Pro) 6—0 T&T Coast Guard/Air Guard
St. Ann’s Rangers (Pro) 5—0 Hills United
Atomic Youth Movement 1—3 Joe Public F.C. (Pro)
St. Ann’s Rangers (NFA)(received a bye) 3—0 La Brea All Stars