Defence Force celebrated its tenth straight Digicel Pro League Championship win this season with a 3-0 win over Police FC on Friday night at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium in Round Two Match Day One action.
Top goal-getter Devon Jorsling netted a double while Sean Narcis registered a decent volley to earn the leaders the comfortable victory after a three-month break in the League.
The soldiers now have 30 points from 10 games—14 points clear of second positioned defending champs Bmobile Joe Public.
Joe Public will be in action on Saturday against Ma Pau SC from 6pm at the Marvin Lee Stadium as Round Two Match Day One action continues. And at the Larry Gomes Stadium North East Stars will take on FC SouthEnd (6pm) and St. Ann’s Rangers against Caledonia AIA (8pm).
Defence Force was close to opening the scores in the 13th minute when Albert Dexter Thornhill missed with the goal at his mercy after Marvin Jones squared back a pass across the six yard area as De.
But Thornhill’s splitting pass from the left a minute later which was directed to Jones won the soldiers a penalty. Referee Ishmael Mohammed didn’t hesitate to point to the spot after Daryl James’ sliding attempt to cut out the goal opening pass upended Jones.
Jorsling spotted the ball and he comfortably found the inside of the side netting in the 16th minute for a 1-0 advantage while the Police FC players led by captain Todd Ryan continued their argument over the referee’s call.
Jorsling then tried from a set piece outside the area but his left footed attempt sailed harmlessly over the crossbar.
However the soldiers were 2-0 up by the 36th minute when Defence Force midfielder Sean Narcis rifled a first time volley from outside the area to beat a fully stretched goalkeeper Emmanuel Nurse.
It was Thornhill’s pass on the left to Aklie Edwards that opened up the threat. Edwards’ low cross intended to Jorsling was cut out by the Police defence but on the second bite the Defence Force wingback tapped it above the area to find Narcis who executed a wonderful volley to double their lead.
That advantage was extended less than three minutes into the second half when Jorsling showed his brilliance to hold up play then exchanging passes with Thornhill and Jones before shooting past Nurse for a 3-0 score—and his second on the night.
But Jorsling’s spark diminished following his double when he failed to finish two other chances. He was replaced seven minutes from time by Akil Pierre.
Police winger Kenwin Matthew struck the side netting in the 66th minute—five minutes after replacing Kelon Williams—after an exchange of passes between himself and substitute Sayid Freitas.
The lawmen had another attempt in the 71st minute when utility player Noel Williams volleyed just wide from the right as their attempt for a consolation item proved fruitless.
Police FC 0—3 Defence Force
; Devon Jorsling 16’ (pen), 48’, Sean Narcis 36’
Police FC—Emmanuel Nurse, Todd Ryan (capt), Kyle Andrews, Anthony Campbell (Sayid Freitas 55th), Kaaron Foster, Kelon Williams (Kenwin Matthew 61st), Andre Kevin Lynch (Yellow), Noel Williams, Randy Harris, Darryl James, Randy Britto.
Coach—Kelvin Jones.
Defence Force—Kevin Graham, Corey Rivers (capt), Devin Jordan (Yellow), Kurt Williams (Anton Joseph 77th), Devon Jorsling (Akil Pierre 83rd), Albert Dexter Thornhill, Sean Narci, Dexter Pacheco (Yellow) (Richard Roy 61st), Rondell Elcock, Aklie Edwards, Marvin Jones.
Coach—Ross Russell.
Connection, Jabloteh in stalemate clash.
Rivals W Connection and San Juan Jabloteh failed to get the better of eachother on Friday night at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium in the second clash of the Round Two Match Day One Super Friday.
The goalless draw saw Connection remain third on the standings with 15 points, behind Digicel Pro League Championship leaders Defence Force (30 points) and defending champs Bmobile Public (16 points), while Jabloteh remain fifth with 13 points after sharing points.
In the earlier clash a double by Devon Jorsling and another item by Sean Narcis saw Defence Force extend their perfect winning streak into Round Two with a 3-0 win over ninth positioned Police FC.
The W Connection, Jabloteh clash had very little goalmouth action after an exciting start by the visitors with three opportunities in the opening moments when Kennedy Hinkson’s tame shot was thwarted and Willis Plaza failing on two occasions.
While Connection who defeated Jabloteh 1-0 in Round One, saw Hashim Arcia spill overbar in the 32nd minute under pressure by the Jabloteh defence.
Jabloteh had another attempt in the final seconds of the first period when Hinkson’s head on goal from Elijah Manners cross was covered sharply by goalkeeper Jan Michael Williams.
Teams
W Connection—Jan-Michael Williams, Elijah Joseph (capt), Gerard Williams (Yellow), Nickcolson Thomas, Paulo Roberto Santana (Teba McKnight 18th), Romauld Aguillera, Hashim Arcia (Keron Cummings 61st), Kemuel Rivers, Andrei Pacheco (Pernal Williams 77th), Akeem Benjamin, Christian Viveros.
Coach—Stuart Charles Fevrier.
San Juan Jabloteh—Cleon John, Marvin Oliver (capt), Joel Russell (Yellow), Karlon Murray (Anton Hutchinson 76th), Jason Marcano, Mikhil Awai, Elijah Manners, Jamal Jack (Yellow), Willis Plaza (Cyrano Glen 85th), Kennedy Hinkson (Hector Sam 85th), Robert Primus.
Coach—Terry Fenwick.
Baptiste double gives Joe Public the edge against Ma Pau
Striker Kerry Baptiste scored on either side of the half to earn defending Digicel Pro League champs Bmobile Joe Public a hardfought 2-1 win over Ma Pau SC on Saturday night at the Marvin Lee Stadium.
Baptiste scored early before stealing the win two minutes from time as Joe Public maintains second position on the standings after Round Two Match Day One, but well behind of leaders Defence Force. Defence Force are with 30 points from ten games while the Lions are with 19 points.
Baptiste had the Lions in front 1-0 by the 16th minute when he headed from the far post a Hayden Tinto corner after goalkeeper Alejandro Figueroa failed to get gloves to the ball.
However Baptiste’s side suffered a blow in the 20th minute when a collision between defender Carlyle Mitchell and Ma Pau forward Trevin Caesar saw the Joe Public player unable to continue after being whisked away by ambulance with a neck brace.
He was taken to the nearby St. Augustine Medical Hospital and according to team officials, the player suffered a broken rib as well as injury to his neck.
Seventy-two minutes into the match Baptiste failed to double his team’s advantage when he lifted a shot over-bar after being fed a neat cross from substitute Yu Hoshide following a neat build-up by the Lions.
Joe Public goalie Marvin Phillip was later called to action when he had to superbly push out a 79th minute strike by Ma Pau captain Kevin Molino from distance.
But Phillip failed to deny a brilliant free kick by substitute Lyndon Andrews in the 85th minute from just outside the area which curled around the wall and inside the upright beating the fully stretched Joe Public goalie for a 1-1 score.
But just as Ma Pau thought they were back in the game, Baptiste was on target again in the 88th minute when he did enough to guide substitute Marcus Joseph’s low cross past Figueroa to steal the 2-1 victory.
Joe Public 2—1 Ma Pau SC
Kerry Baptiste 16’, 88’ ; Lyndon Andrews 85’
Joe Public—Marvin Phillip, Kerry Baptiste (capt), Carlyle Mitchell (Nigel Daniel 29th), Makan Hislop, Jevon Morris, Kareem Young, Andre Toussaint (Yu Hoshide 62nd), Trent Noel (Yellow), Hayden Tinto, Gason Gregory (Marcus Joseph 81st) (Yellow), Jason Springer.
Coach—Derek King.
Ma Pau SC—Alejandro Figueroa, Kevin Molino (capt), Coneal Thomas, Lester Peltier, Rennie Britto, Mekeil Williams (Kerry Noray 74th), Keyeno Thomas, Shane Calderon (Lyndon Andrews 74th), Seon Power, Trevin Caesar, Dwayne James.
Coach—Michael McComie.
Standings and Results for 19 & 20-Nov-2010
Friday
19:11:10, 6:00pm, Police FC 0 v Defence Force 3 (Devon Jorsling 16-Pen, 48, Sean Narcis 36), Mannie Ramjohn Stadium
19:11:10, 8:00pm, W Connection 0 v San Juan Jabloteh 0, Mannie Ramjohn Stadium
Saturday
20:11:10, 6:00pm, Joe Public 2 (Kerry Baptiste 16, 88) v Ma Pau SC 1 (Lyndon Andrews 85), Marvin Lee Stadium
20:11:10, 6:00pm, North East Stars 2 (Gary Glasgow 37, Aubrey David Own-Goal-71) v FC South End 1 (Anthony Haynes 45), Hasely Crawford Stadium
20:11:10, 8:00pm, St Ann’s Rangers 0 v Caledonia AIA 4 (Keyon Edwards 5, Nuru Muhammad 57, 64, Ryan Stewart 86), Hasely Crawford Stadium