It was a game of even halves on Tuesday night at the Marvin Lee Stadium in a Round One Match Day Two of the 2011-2012 Digicel Pro League Championship when St. Ann’s Rangers, after going under 3-0 in the first half, fought back to level the scores 3-3 in the second period.
Jabloteh coming off last Friday’s 2-1 First Citizens Cup quarterfinal victory over Rangers, had a brilliant first half dominating possession and a three goal advantage with England born midfielder Luke Gullick smashing in the opening item in the 27th minute after he was picked out by midfielder Jason Marcano.
And striker Willis Plaza taking his tally to five goals in three matches for the Earl Carter coached side this season with a pair of goals in quick succession.
In the 42nd minute Plaza capped off a brilliant buildup on the right by Kennedy Hinkson and Hector Sam with a strike beating Haitian goalkeeper Fortunato Valcourt for a 2-0 advantage.
And in the 45th minute he poised himself well just inside the area to finish the half with a perfect strike past Valcourt and into the far netting for the 3-0 half time score.
However what seemed a defensive approach in the second half by Jabloteh, worked against the San Juan club, conceding three second half goals and nearly costing them the game but Rangers failed to convert a fourth in the final minute of regulation time and steal full points.
Loyal Rangers’ midfielder Devon Modeste who had an off target effort midway through the first half made no mistake on a second bite in front of goal after goalkeeper Cleon John made a point blank shut out in a play created by midfielder Trent Noel in the 49th minute reducing the deficit 1-3.
Rangers’ captain and forward Errol McFarlane then made it 2-3 in the 63rd minute when he powerfully headed past goalkeeper John off a well placed Shaquille Nesbitt cross from the right.
Modeste registered his second on the night leveling the scores 3-3 in the 67th minute with a wonderful strike from distance beating an out of position John as Jabloteh relinquished full points.
Modeste later failed to hand the Anthony Streete coached side full points in the 90th minute when he guided an effort inches wide of the far post from inside the six yard area to the dismay of Rangers supporters and staff.
However it was an improvement from Rangers last match and the Tuesday’s first half which Jabloteh dominated.
Eleven minutes into the match Jabloteh’s Hector Sam guided a Marcano cross onto the cross bar and in the 25th minute defender Jamal Jack was just wide of the Rangers’ far post.
Ten minutes later Jack was denied by the glove of Valcourt who pulled off a fine save against the Jabloteh wingback.
In the second period Jabloteh had a few efforts with defender Sheldon Bateau scraping the side netting in the 51st minute, and Gullick and Plaza unleashing shots from distance in efforts to restore stability against the Rangers’ resurgence.
And in the second clash of the League Championship double header on Tuesday night, defender Seon Power’s second half strike handed DIRECTV North East Stars a 1-0 victory over Caledonia AIA.
2011-2012 Digicel Pro League Championship
Round One Match Day Two results
St. Ann's Rangers 3—3 San Juan Jabloteh
Devon Modeste 49', 67' Errol McFarlane 67' ; Luke Gullick 27', Willis Plaza 42', 45'
North East Stars 1—0 Caledonia AIA
Seon Power 55’
Teams
St. Ann's Rangers—Fortunato Valcourt, Errol McFarlane (capt.), Kareem Moses, Trent Noel, Elijah Belgrave (Marvin Springer 87th), Jamie Ruiz Jamies (Akil Clarke 52nd), Devon Modeste, Mikhail Awai, Theon James (Kaashif Thomas 54th), Jevon Morris, Shaquille Nesbitt.
Coach—Anthony Streete.
San Juan Jabloteh—Cleon John, Marvin Oliver (capt.) (Elijah Manners 74th), Nigel Daniel, Jason Marcano, Luke Gullick, Willis Plaza, Joel Russell, Kennedy Hinkson (Kerron Edwards 92nd), Hector Sam (Johan Peltier 74th), Jamal Jack, Sheldon Bateau
.
Coach—Earl Carter.
St. Ann´s Rangers vs San Juan Jabloteh
1 Goals 3
5 Shots on Target 7
5 Shots Off Target 6
1 Corners 10
4 Offsides 3
8 Fouls 9
0 Yellow Cards 0
0 Red Cards 0