Baptiste double sinks South End
Kerry Baptiste looks set for another impressive season after registering a double to give Joe Public maximum points against a troublesome FC South End at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium on Tuesday afternoon.
Joe Public maintained their second position on the Digicel Pro League standings now with 7 points after Round One Match Day Three.
Baptiste, a Trinidad and Tobago international, registered a goal on either side of the half to sink the 2009 Pro League newcomers South End.
Kerry Baptiste silenced the South End crowd at the Marabella venue when he picked up on a poor back pass by the home team defence, slipped by defender Marlon Stoute and goalkeeper Aquelius Sylvester before clinically placing the ball into the net from a tight angle.
South End enjoyed the better exchanges for the remainder of the half but goalkeeper Michael Woods was brilliant for Public keeping every and anything out preserving his team’s 1-0 advantage till the break.
But with a change in midfield by Derek King replacing Kashif Thomas with Julien Landeau following the break, Joe Public took control of the match.
Two minutes into the second period Baptiste headed in Jason Springer’s cross into the South End net however his celebration run was cut short as the goal was ruled offside.
Joe Public opened up in-ways however shots by Akeil Guevara, Carlyle Mitchel and Hayden Tinto failed to find the back of the net.
Baptiste had a great opportunity in the 59th minute to double-up but struck over from inside the area after Tinto squared a pass into the area from the right which Guevara failed to collect first.
Public continued their dominance despite second half changes by Anthony Rougier introducing Brenton De Leon, Donrick Mascall and Ronell Gibbs in attack.
Baptiste then wrapped up the scoring in the 88th minute calmly heading Tinto’s cross past goalkeeper Sylvester for a 2-0 finish.
W Connection wins it late against Rangers
Kemuel Rivers and Jonathon Frias netted inside the last eleven minutes of play to guide recently crowned Caribbean Champions W Connection to a 2-0 victory against St Ann’s Rangers on Tuesday at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium.
It was a hard fought win for Connection, registering their first win of the 2009 Championship after three match days—thanks to the brilliance of striker Jonathon Frias coming off an impressive showing in the CFU Club Champions Cup scoring a double in the final against Puerto Rico Islanders.
Frias Rangers proved a worthy opponent holding the match at a deadlock until Connection luck ran in when referee assistant Michael Ragoonath raised his flag for penalty after Jonathon Frias’ attempted pass inside the area flick up off the boot of second half introduced defender Richard Santana and onto his hand in the 79th minute.
The resulting penalty kick was struck onto the upright by Frias but the rebound wasn’t wasted when Kenuel Rivers blasted in the opening item past a full stretched goalkeeper Seegobin for a 1-0 advantage.
Four minutes later Frias made up for his earlier error, adding his team’s second item of the night when he rounded defender Santana after collecting Igor Santos’ pass and calmly slot the ball into Seegobin’s far netting as W Connection enjoyed moving up the standings three places into fifth.
In a tightly contested first half Mathew Bartholomew failed to put Connection ahead just before the break after outrunning the Rangers defence to place himself one on one with goalkeeper Javan Seegobin, but it was Seegobin who was brilliant racing off his line to get his leg to Bartholomew’s shot guiding it out for a corner.
Elton John keeps Jabloteh winning, Petrotrin trash Police
Defending League champions San Juan Jabloteh extended their winning ways to three out of three thanks to a second half strike by wingback Elton John against Tobago United on Tuesday afternoon at the Plymouth Recreation Ground.
John, coming off an impressive showing in the just concluded CFU Club Champions Cup, scored the lone item of the match in the 76th minute trashing Tobago’s hopes of a draw.
Meantime down south Arnold Dwarika registered a double to lead United Petrotrin to a 4-0 win over Police FC at the Palo Seco Recreation Ground making it two out of two for the Oilmen.
Dwarika netted on either side of the half (41st and 62nd) to lead the way before and own goal by Randy Harris in the 55th minute and a late item by Gary Glasgow (81st) capped off the healthy 4-0 win for Petrotrin.
Jabloteh now with 9 points after Round Three Match Day Three at the top of the standings are followed by Joe Public(7 points) in second and United Petrotrin(6 points) in third.
Joe Public moved up one spot while United Petrotrin with only two matches played moved two spots up.
Caledonia AIA of Morvant Laventille were also winners on Tuesday afternoon when they overcame a first half strike by Vincentian Shandell Samuel(45th) by scoring two goals in two minutes through strikes by Kerry Daniel(48th) and Keon Edwards(49th) for a 2-1 comeback win against Ma Pau SC at the Larry Gomes Stadium.
Caledonia, having played just two matches, are now with three points and up three spots into seventh