Jabloteh adds Toyota Classic title to 2008 fame.CLICO San Juan Jabloteh were crowned the 2008 Toyota Classic champions on Friday adding to their already successful season defeating St Ann’s Rangers 2-1 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
Second half goals by captain Trent Noel and attacker Jason Marcano gave the San Juan Kings the edge against St Ann’s Rangers who pulled a goal back through Joseph Peters.
Rangers’ star players Errol Mc Farlane and Ricky Charles failed to spark at the Port of Spain venue leaving Jabloteh as the most successful team of 2008.
Shem Mc Farlane struck wide of Jabloteh’s goal in the first minute of play but it was Marvin Oliver who scraped the crossbar in the 20th minute as the League champions failed to score in the best opening chance.
Oliver was inches too high after a Cornell Glen knocked the ball down to the dreadlocked midfielder.
Cornell Glen, who failed to have a shot on goal in the 26th minute under pressure from Coneal Thomas after a brilliant through ball by Trent Noel, tried his luck from the set piece but was well over bar from 21 yards out.
Rangers’ Shem mc Farlane missed the target a second time in the 28th minute, this time better than his earlier effort as goalkeeper Cleon John only watched as the ball flashed his far post.
And on the other end goalkeeper Shane Mattis pulled off a decent save to deny Jason Marcano on the half hour mark. Marcano had another go at goal seconds later from distance but Mattis was well positioned to make a comfortable gather.
The stalemate lasted till the break as both teams failed to get the better of eachother.
But four minutes inside the second period Trent Noel registered the opening item from a free kick, placing the ball inside goalkeeper Mattis’ far corner from the left of the 18 yard area after Joseph Peters fouled Jason Marcano.
Peters was fortunate not to pick up a second yellow card two minutes later when he again fouled Marcano but this time referee Russell Casimar decided not to book the player.
Jabloteh pressed on for another item in the 54th minute through striker Cornell Glen racing down the centre to have a low shot only to see goalkeeper Mattis get his fingers to the ball guiding it just wide of the upright.
However Mattis couldn’t do the same in the 56th minute when Jason Marcano curled a right footed shot into his net for a 2-0 advantage after making a save on Marvin Oliver’s effort.
Rangers had little up front with Errol Mc Farlane playing a midfield role rather than his preferred striking position.
Joseph Peters had a good go at goal from inside the area in the 65th minute but denied by a brilliant Cleon John.
However John was unfortunate two minutes later when Rangers pulled back a goal from Peters’ 23 yard free kick which took a deflection wrongfooting the Jabloteh goalie for a 2-1 score.
Excitement picked up from them on with Cornell Glen and Lester Peltier both failing good chances inside the 69th minute after Trent Noel played a brilliant cross inside the Rangers’ area.
Rangers also had a good opportunity to level the scores in the 73rd minute but Ricky Charles failed to get over his shot pulling it wide of the Jabloteh goal.
Frustrations began to flow towards the end for Rangers losing midfielder Devon Modeste on back to back yellow cards seven minutes from time.
Despite all of Rangers’ misfortune goalkeeper Shane Mattis kept holding things together and made a great block on Cornell Glen’s first time effort from a cross in the 87th minute.
Jabloteh lost a player after defender Joel Russell picked up a direct card for striking Joseph Peters in the face in the closing stages.
But time ran out of the fighting Rangers with Jabloteh celebrating the 2008 Toyota Classic—a title they were short of by one match against Joe Public in 2007.
Teams
CLICO San Juan Jabloteh — Cleon John (gk), Trent Noel (capt.), Lester Peltier (Jerol Forbes 74th), Devon Jamerson (Willis Plaza 90th+), Marvin Oliver, Elton John, Jason Marcano (Elijah Manners 90th), Anton Hutchinson, Nigel Daniel, Cornell Glen, Joel Russell.
Trent Noel 49’, Jason Marcano 56’
Coach—Terry Fenwick
St Ann’s Rangers — Shane Mattis (gk), Errol Mc Farlane (capt.), Coneal Thomas, Shem Mc Farlane (Christon Thomas 55th), Devon Modeste (yellow, yellow), Keyon Edwards, Joseph Peters (yellow), Shane Rennie (Josimar Belgrave 67th), Ricky Charles, Jevon Morris, Elijah Belgrave.
Joseph Peters 67’
Coach—Anthony Streete
Sandy saves Caledonia for Toyota third place.
Neal and Massy Caledonia AIA fresh from their FA Trophy title win on Wednesday completed their 2008 season on a winning note on Friday to win the Toyota Classic third place playoff against North East Stars 6-5 on penalties at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
Goalkeeper Dwaine Sandy made two saves from the spot denying Marc Leslie and John Stewart to help his team to victory after a 2-2 regulation time score.
Conrad Smith opened the scoring and Kareem Joseph netted from the penalty spot to give the Stallions a 2-0 advantage at the break but after constant pressure by the Grande Stars, the Miguel Hackett coached side levelled the scores 2-2 before the final minute.
North East Stars got their goals courtesy Anthony Wolfe and substitute Jason Cudjoe after dominating the second period.
However it was the 2008 Courts Pro Bowl and FA Trophy champions who proved to better from the penalty spot and take home the third place finish.
North East Stars were inches off the opening item after midfielder Leslie Fitzpatrick curling effort from outside the area caught the entire defence asleep only to crash off Michael Woods’ far upright in the 18th minute.
Three minutes later Stars Colombian midfielder Carlos Gonzales had a powerful shot just wide of Woods’ near upright after it took a slight deflection with the Grande Boys only winning a corner from the effort.
But Caledonia AIA fresh from their FA Trophy title, three days earlier got the opening item when Conrad Smith guided Marcus Ambrose low cross past goalkeeper Andrew Durrant at close range in the 31st minute for a 1-0 advantage.
Smith, who scored one goal and set up another in FA final against W Connection, was later guilty of a missed penalty after Stars defender Brent Sancho upended Guyanese winger Walter Moore inside the area in the 36th minute—goalkeeper Andrew Durrant made the save on the Caledonia AIA forward.
However Durrant turned hero to villain in the 44th minute after fouling Moore—his Guyanese national teammate—inside the area awarding the Stallions another shot from the spot.
Kareem Joseph was awarded the task to do what teammate Smith failed at and made no mistake hitting it low at goalkeeper Durrant’s left for a 2-0 cushion at the break.
Seven minutes into the second period Caledonia survived a shot on goal and a shout penalty shout after goalkeeper Dwaine Sandy blocked out Anthony Wolfe’s strike off a Fitzpatrick cross—and the loose ball picked up by Akeil Guevarra saw the Stars midfielder go down inside the area after a challenge by Charles Pollard. However referee Rashby Mc Phie waved play on.
North East Stars seemed unlucky throughout the night with another chance on the hour mark after Anthony Wolfe’s header on goal from a Fitzpatrick free kick lacked power allowing goalkeeper Sandy to rush back for a comfortable pick up.
But in the 71st minute from a similar set piece, the only difference being the opposite side of the penalty area, Anthony Wolfe headed in goal to reduce the deficit 2-1 after goalkeeper Sandy failed to meet Fitzpatrick right side free kick.
Four minutes later Jamaal Shabaaz thought it was wise to secure their defence with Richard Jones at the expense of midfielder Akim Armstrong.
Caledonia also tried at return to their two goals advantage however were only able to manage a couple wide efforts by Conrad Smith, who failed to do better in the 70th and 77th minutes.
But in the final minute of regulation time substitute Jason Cudjoe levelled the scores 2-2 heading past Sandy with a diving attempt clipping the upright before it nestled in the back of the Caledonia goal from Fitzpatrick left side cross forcing the match to be decided via the penalty spot.
Caledonia AIA North East Stars
Kareem Joseph (scored) Randolph Jerome (scored)
Stephan David (saved) Carlos Gonzales (scored)
Uriah Bentick (scored) Leslie Fitzpatrick (scored)
Walter Moore (scored) Anthony Wolfe (scored)
Densill Theobald (scored) Marc Leslie (saved)
Abdallah Phillips (scored) Jason Cudjoe (scored)
Richard Jones (scored) John Stewart (saved)
Caledonia AIA — Dwaine Sandy (gk), Charles Pollard (capt.), Densill Theobald, Walter Moore, Abdallah Phillips, Conrad Smith, Akim Armstrong (Richard Jones 75th), Marcus Ambrose, Kareem Joseph, Jameel Perry, Stephan David.
Conrad Smith 31’, Kareem Joseph 45’ (pen)
Technical Director—Jamaal Shabazz
North East Stars — Andrew Durrant (gk) (yellow), Anthony Wolfe (capt.) (yellow), Glenton Wofe (yellow), Sean Cooper (Jason Cudjoe 67th), Carlos Gonzales, Akeil Guevarra (Randolph Jerome 61st), Marc Leslie, Brent Sancho, Marlon Stoute (Kevin Jeffrey 82nd), John Stewart, Leslie Fitzpatrick.
Anthony Wolfe 71’, Jason Cudjoe 90’
Coach—Miguel Hackett