Caledonia tightens chase after 2-1 win over Ma Pau, Army halted, Joe Public still in title race

The Morvant/Laventille side scored early on both sides of the half through goals by Ryan Stewart and Jean-Luc Rochford to close in on League leaders Defence Force (34 points).

While Ma Pau pulled a goal back in injury time through defender Aquil Selby for the 2-1 finish.

The Jamaal Shabazz coached Caledonia (30 points) is four points shy of the Defence Force after the Soldiers suffered a 2-1 defeat in the second clash of the Round Two Match Day Six Super Friday double header against defending champs bmobile Joe Public creating what’s expected to be a very interesting finish to the Championship.

Caledonia shocked Ma Pau 10 minutes into the match when Stewart, coming off a double in Wednesday's FA defeat against San Juan Jabloteh, defeated goalkeeper Alejandro Figueroa with a well placed shot from outside the area.

It was Densill Theobald who dispossessed Dwane James in the middle of the park and made a couple strides before playing the ball wide on the left for Stewart to give the Morvant/Laventille side a 1-0 advantage.

Ma Pau's Lester Peltier then had a low attempt which was pushed out by goalkeeper Kevin Graham in the 16th minute.

And two minutes later Peltier hooked a Seon Power cross wide in another tame effort.

Ma Pau again failed to find the back of the net when Mekeil Williams hammered high when he met Power's pass after a patient buildup by the Woodbrook side in the 31st minute.

Three minutes from the half Ma Pau goalie Figueroa provided a brilliant save denying Akim Armstrong at close range to maintain his side's one goal deficit at the break.

Earlier Armstrong had an attempt blocked out by Selby after making a surging run on the right.

But Caledonia doubled its advantage 2-0, two and a half minutes inside the second period when Jean-Luc Rochford slammed the ball past Figueroa from inside the six-yard area after a neat exchange of passes by the Shabazz coached side.

Following the hour mark Ma Pau coach Michael McComie introduced his new signing Leslie Fitzpatrick—from North East Stars—replacing Rennie Britto in hopes of some stability on the pitch.

However Caledonia had introductions themselves in Conrad Smith and Abdallah Phillip.

Smith failed to add to Ma Pau's miseries in the 77th with only goalkeeper Figueroa to beat when he placed a low shot at the Colombian after a charging run by Armstrong.

Another substitute, Kerry Daniel failed to hit the target three minutes from time as Caledonia chose not to sit back on its two-goal cushion.

The Morvant/Laventille side had another great opening in the final minute of regulation time but Stewart's option to go at goal himself proved fruitless when Figueroa thwarted the tame effort from the right.

Ma Pau then pulled back a goal in the 92nd minute from a set piece to reduce the deficit 2-1 when Aquil Selby headed in a Fitzpatrick freekick.

However it was too late for a comeback by the Woodbrook based club with only three minutes of added on time.

Caledonia AIA 2—0 Ma Pau SC
Ryan Stewart 10', Jean-Luc Rochford 48' ; Aquil Selby 90'+2

Teams

Caledonia AIA—Kevin Graham, Stephan David (capt.), Nuru Abdullah Muhammed, Jean-Luc Rochford (Conrad Smith 71st), Ryan Stewart, Kareem Joseph, Walter Moore, Akim Armstrong (Kerry Daniel 80th), Keyon Edwards (Abdallah Phillip 71st), Daneil Cyrus, Densill Theobald (Yellow).

Coach—Jamaal Shabazz.

Ma Pau SC—Alejandro Figueroa, Lyndon Andrews (capt.), Coneal Thomas, Lester Peltier, Rennie Britto (Leslie Fitzpatrick 67th), Mekeil Williams, Seon Power (Shane Calderon 75th), Dwane James, Trevin Caesar, Cyd Gray (Yellow) (Kerry Noray 45th), Aquil Selby.

Coach—Michael McComie.

Army halted, Joe Public still in title race.

Defending champs Bmobile Joe Public reminded that they are still in contention for the 2010-2011 Digicel Pro League Championship by defeating leaders Defence Force 2-1 in the second clash a Super Friday at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.

Joe Public jumped to third with 28 points, two behind second positioned Caledonia AIA (30 points) and six points away from Defence Force (34 points) with three matches left after this weekend’s Round Two Match Day Six.

Meantime Defence Force maintained top spot but motionless with its 34 points.

The Soldiers, after completing 10 straight wins from 10 games, only managed four points from their last five games. While their once massive lead is now reduced to just four points.

Sean Narcis scored late for the Soldiers, however it wasn’t enough to come back after going down against goals by Keion Goodridge (21st minute) and Micah Lewis (79th minute).

Defence Force trailed from the 21st minute against Joe Public after defender Goodridge had the Lions ahead 1-0 when he guided in a freekick from the right past Kevin Graham.

In the 32nd minute Defence Force faced another threat when Japanese midfielder Yu Hoshide was a hairline away from doubling Joe Public's advantage.

The Soldiers were then reduced to 10-men moments before the break when defender Rawle Fletcher picked up his second yellow card from referee Lee Davis.

Six minutes into the second period Army goalkeeper Graham pulled off a fine save to push behind a brilliant effort by Trent Noel.

And on the other end in the 63rd minute substitute Richard Roy unleashed one of his powerful efforts from distance to startle goalkeeper Marvin Phillip who luckily was well positioned behind the effort.

Six minutes later Joe Public’s Marcus Joseph eluded goalkeeper Graham inside the area before having a go at goal only to see his effort acrobatically headed off the line by Rondell Elcock.

But Micah Lewis then cushioned Joe Public in the 79th minute with a perfectly placed low shot to beat Graham’s full stretch and into the far netting for a 2-0 score.

Lewis had a similar opportunity to double his tally in the 86th but squandered it—this time playing his shot into Graham.

Defence Force then pulled a goal back in the 89th minute when Narcis guided Aklie Edwards' short pass into the roof of the Joe Public net beating Phillip for the 2-1 finish.

Defence Force 1—2 Joe Public
Sean Narcis 89' ; Keion Goodridge 21', Micah Lewis 79'

Teams

Defence Force—Kevin Graham, Corey Rivers (capt.), Jerwyn Balthazar (Rondell Elcock 46th), Devon Jorsling, Kerry Joseph (Richard Roy 53rd), Ross Russell Jr. (Albert Dexter Thornhill 68th), Keston Williams, Rawle Fletcher (Yellow, Yellow, Red), Aklie Edwards, Sean Narcis, Dexter Pacheco.

Coach—Ross Russell.

Joe Public—Marvin Phillip, Trent Noel (capt.), Jevon Morris (Yellow), Kareem Young, Nigel Daniel, Marcus Joseph, Yu Hoshide (Devon Jamerson 70th), Keion Goodridge, Micah Lewis, Hayden Tinto (Kenaz Williams 93rd), Kareem Moses (Yellow).

Coach—Derek King.