Devon Jorsling rejoined Defence Force after serving a one-match suspension to net a second double which lifted his side to a 4-2 victory over St. Ann’s Rangers on Friday evening at the Marvin Lee Stadium.
The victory maintains the soldiers’ perfect record this season to eight wins from eight at the top of the 2010 Digicel Pro League standings with 24 points while Rangers remained way down in ninth position with six points.
However the Anthony Streete coached Rangers showed good resistance against the undefeated Defence Force with team captain Devon Modeste and Kwame Wiltshire both finding the back of the net with the scoreline at one time being 3-2 before Jorsling notched his second in the 90th minute to wrap up a 4-2 victory.
Rangers’ goalie Daurance Williams was put into action very early making back to back saves in the 7th minute, first denying Balthazar and the follow-up by Jorsling in what should have given the Soldiers the opening item.
Daurance was again heroic making another double save in the 10th minute palming out Richard Roy’s test from outside the area and a tame follow-up by Jorsling.
But the soldiers finally got the deserving opening item in the 30th minute when Roy converted past Williams from inside the six-yard area under challenge from Elijah Belgrave from a long cross played in by Jorsling for a 1-0 advantage.
That lead only lasted two minutes when Modeste headed in Josimar Belgrave’s cross into an open net after Defence Force goalkeeper Kevin Graham misjudged the cross-ball to find himself in no-man’s land as Rangers celebrated leveling the score 1-1.
But the St. Ann’s based squad returned to being a goal down in the 35th minute when substitute Dexter Thornhill—less than two minutes after replacing injured Kerry Joseph—whipped in a wonderful cross which Carter controlled before blasting a shot past Williams for a 2-1 score.
The soldiers then made it 3-1 four minutes into the second half with Thornhill again providing another brilliant cross finding the feet of Jorsling who took his time settling the ball before placing a shot into Williams left corner for a 3-1 score putting the match further away from a Rangers comeback.
That didn’t damp Rangers’ hopes and they reduced the deficit 2-3 in the 57th minute with a brilliant play when substitute Adrian Narine played an over the top pass to Kwame Wiltshire and the midfielder composed himself to make a neat control and finished past Graham’s right and into the far netting.
Rangers were close adding another in the 69th minute on the counter attack with Modeste bursting down the left before whipping a dangerous cross which was desperately cut out for a corner with Josimar Belgrave racing in for a tap in at the far post.
Narine also had a go at goal in the 72nd minute for the St. Ann’s based club couldn’t find another equalizing moment.
Defence Force continued to press the Rangers’ defence with Micahel Edwards forcing a fine save from Daurance Williams in the 88th minute and a minute later Aklie Edwards was inches over the crossbar from distance.
And in the final minute of regulation time Jorsling notched his ninth goal of the season—scoring in all seven appearances for Defence Force—when he smashed in Carter’s cross past Williams from just inside the area for a 4-2 finish.
St. Ann’s Rangers 2—4 Defence Force
Devon Modeste 32’, Kwame Wiltshire 57’ ; Richard Roy 30’, Kevon Carter 35’, Devon Jorsling 49’, 90’
St. Ann’s Ranges—Daurance Williams, Devon Modeste (capt), Elijah Belgrave, Julian Martineuz, Javon Wilson (Yellow), Kaashif Thomas, Kwame Wiltshire, Josimar Belgrave, Nicholas Valentine, Joseph Peters (Aaron Stewart 76th), Akil Clarke.
Coach—Anthony Streete.
Defence Force—Kevin Graham, Michael Edwards (capt), Keston Williams, Aklie Edwards, Devin Jordan, Devon Jorsling, Kerry Joseph (Dexter Thornhill 33rd), Richard Roy (Ronald St. Louis 69th), Kevon Carter (Yellow), Jerwyn Balthazar (Ross Russell Jr. 87th), Sean Narcis.
Coach—Ross Russell.
Stars surrender against Lions
Sangre Grande based DIRECTV North East Stars had a collapsing second period against defending Digicel Pro League champions Bmobile Joe Public to suffer a 3-2 defeat on Friday night at the Marvin Lee Stadium in Round One Match Day Nine.
Stars were comfortable at the break with a 2-0 advantage courtesy goals by Akeil Guevara and a penalty spot item by Errol McFarlane.
However that comfort was swept away by second half goals by substitute Andre Toussaint, utility player Carlyle Mitchell and a superb strike by midfielder Trent Noel for the Joe Public winner.
Joe Public jumped one spot into fourth on the 2010 Digicel Pro League standings with 13 points while the disappointed Stars remains sixth with 10 points.
Stars was denied by a brilliant one handed save by goalkeeper Glenroy Samuel in the 23rd minute when Sean Frazer received a chest down pass by McFarlane and volleyed a shot towards to right corner.
But seven minutes later Samuel was beaten when Guevara guided Mc Farlane’s cross into his net for a 1-0 Stars’ advantage.
Guevara then won his side a penalty in the 36th minute after he was pulled down by defender Nigel Daniel inside the area and Mc Farlane comfortably slotted the kick home for a 2-0 cushion.
Joe Public head coaches Derek King and Ralph Nelson then risked it all pumping three forwards even at the disposal of defender Makan Hislop and it worked in the defending champions' favour.
But it wasn’t all perfect for the Lions in the second period with striker Kerry Baptiste returning from injury to miss a kick from the penalty spot.
Joe Public was awarded a penalty in the 57th minute after a handball inside the Stars area however Baptiste right footed kick crashed onto the crossbar to goalkeeper Michael Woods’ delight.
But what Woods didn’t expect, was that three goals would come following the failed Baptiste opportunity.
Toussaint who had an earlier miss, found the back of the Stars’ net beating Woods from Conrod Smith’s cross in the 76th minute to reduce the deficit 1-2.
Toussaint was again on target in the 71st but denied brilliantly by Woods putting the shot out for a corner.
And it was from another corner that the Lions leveled the scores 2-2 in the 77th minute taken by Yu Hoshide and headed in by Carlyle Mitchell.
Then came the deciding item in style seven minutes from time when Noel blasted in a superb curling effort from distance to beat Woods and steal a 3-2 victory.
Joe Public 3—2 North East Stars
Andre Toussaint 67’, Carlyle Mitchell 77’, Trent Noel 83’ ; Akeil Guevara 30’, Errol McFarlane 37’ (pen)
Joe Public—Glenroy Samuel, Kerry Baptiste (capt) (Conrad Smith 58th), Trent Noel, Hayden Tinto (Yellow), Jevon Morris, Micah Lewis (Andre Toussaint 60th), Nigel Daniel, Makan Hislop (Yu Hoshide 41st), Kareem Young (Yellow), Keion Goodridge, Carlyle Mitchell.
Coaches—Derek King/Ralph Nelson.
North East Stars—Michael Woods, Errol McFarlane (capt), Marc Leslie, Gary Glasgow, Glenton Wolfe (Jason Devenish 69th), Carey Harris, Sean Frazer (Randolph Jerome 74th), Akeil Guevara, Leslie Fitzpatrick, Kimarley McDonald, Jeromie Williams.
Coach—Rod Underwood.
Fans return to Local Football
This season the new initiatives by the Digicel Pro League have borne instant fruit with the fans beginning to return to local football by the droves.
The ‘Super Friday’ concept have been described by many a fan as a stroke of genius and have seen thousands of fans coming out every Friday to support their favorite teams and players.
One group of fans who have made the ‘Super Friday’ their after work lime every week is a group of young ladies who work at the COSTAAT head office.
These beautiful young ladies have religiously attended football on Friday evening this season and was thrilled to reveal to the ttproleague.com the reasons for their continued involvement, weekly at ‘Super Friday’.
The most outspoken of the group Juliana Moses stated, “This year is the first time I have followed local football in my life and I have found it to really great experience”, the Cocorite resident continued, “ the football have been good and together with my friends we usually have a great time, enjoying the music, the giveaways and good company”.
Laurane Williams who is considered to be the Blue Jay of the group because of her cheerful spirit and easygoing nature, also expressed delight at having started coming ‘Super Friday’, “before this year I was not much of a football fan, I would watch a few game on television and that was about it but since I started coming football this year I have totally fallen in love with the atmosphere, the vibe and of course local football”.
“The games have been very exciting, especially when Defence Force or Ma Pau are playing and the atmosphere at games are really electric, I feel safe and comfortable and so I can really enjoy myself at games”, the Chaguanas diva ended in her own exciting style, “Waka Waka Digicel Pro League, shine shine Digicel Pro League,” she translated.
“I learn that from James Saunders on TV6,” she with a mischievous smile.
‘Super Friday’ have not only attracted young ladies but young men have also started following local football two should young men are Trinicity resident Jevon Brassey and Randy Griffith son of former ‘Strike Squad’ member Elliot Allen.
These two young though not connected by no bond but their love for football was resounding in their response when asked of the reason for being at the games, “football is our passion but we never know that local football was so exciting and the atmosphere so charged” they said almost in unison, “so this year as the games are being advertised on the radio and television we decided to come and see some of the games and well, you will be seeing us every ‘Super Friday’”
With such raging reviews football fans are invited to come and be part of the revival of local football as Laurane Williams would say Waka Waka Digicel Pro League.