In-form Adam’s Construction San Juan Jabloteh striker Willis Plaza notched his third 2011-2012 Digicel Pro League Championship item opening the scoring against leaders W Connection in a 2-0 victory on Tuesday night at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium in a rescheduled Round One Match Day Three fixture.
Plaza’s strike turned out an important one helping his side jump into third position on the standings with 6 points, one point behind second positioned T&TEC FC and three shy of table toping Connection while earning its first League win following three drawn results.
Plaza buried his overall sixth item in all competitions past a hapless goalkeeper Jan Michael Williams from inside the area in the 10th minute for the 1-0 Jabloteh advantage stunning the home side following a quick play from a freekick won by the goalscorer near the centre circle.
And 11 minutes from regulation time, Hector Sam sealed the Earl Carter coached side’s victory with a superb strike for the 2-0 win as Connection which enjoyed maximum points from three previous games, picked up its first League defeat of the season.
But it wasn’t all Jabloteh in the contest loaded with constructive football by both sides.
In the end it was Jabloteh that capitalized on its chances.
Two minutes following Plaza’s early item, Jabloteh goalkeeper Cleon John had to make two saves against Connection, with the second a superb push behind to deny an Andre Quashie’s blast.
And in the 16th minute former Jabloteh player Jerrel Britto spilled wide of John’s far post to the disappointment of Connection supporters.
Britto closed off the first half chances with his effort taking a deflection and sailing overbar only winning the home side a corner.
And two minutes into the second half Plaza provided Johan Peltier with a one on one with goalkeeper Williams, however winger’s shot was blocked out by the Connection goalie who charged off his line early.
Seconds later Connection’s Keron Cummings fired a low shot into the gloves of John and in the 51st minute from a set piece won by Connection substitute Shahdon Winchester, Hughtun Hector was inches off the near upright.
Jabloteh were also inches off from a set piece in the first period with wingback Nigel Daniel holding his head in disbelief as his freekick won by Oliver just outside the area flashed over the crossbar.
And from a brilliant Connection play which was orchestrated by Jomal Williams in the 73rd minute saw Hector defeated goalkeeper John with a curling effort but was denied by the root of the upright to Jabloteh’s relief.
Jabloteh then placed a lid on the match in the 79th minute when Sam, who headed wide from a set piece in the 62nd minute, made no mistake when he was picked out by Kennedy Hinkson before eluding his markers and slamming a low shot past goalkeeper Jan Michael Williams for the 2-0 score.
Sam was just short of a touch in the 82nd minute near the goalmouth and in the 85th minute had a tame shot from distance which was easily handled by Williams.
In the end a solid backline with the return of U-23 defenders Sheldon Bateau and Joel Leslie Russell teaming up with wingbacks Nigel Daniel and Jamal Jack and the gloves of Cleon John, and finishing by Plaza and Sam saw Jabloteh enjoy one against rivals W Connection.
W Connection 0—2 San Juan Jabloteh
; Willis Plaza 10’, Hector Sam 79’
W. Connection Match Statistics San Juan Jabloteh
0 Goals 2
4 Attempts on Target 5
8 Attempts Wide 4
1 Offsides 1
9 Corners 2
10 Fouls 17
1 Yellow Cards 1
0 Red Cards 0
Teams
W Connection—Jan Michael Williams, Hughtun Hector (capt), Elijah Joseph, Keron Cummings (Joevin Jones 66th), Kemuel Rivers, Kern Cupid, Hashim Arcia (Yellow 27) (Shahdon Winchester 46th), Andre Quashie (Neil Benjamin 77th), Jomal Williams, Jerrel Britto, Akeem Benjamin.
Coach—Stuart Charles Fevrier.
San Juan Jabloteh—Cleon John (capt), Marvin Oliver, Joel Leslie Russell, Devon Jamerson (Luke Gullick 74th), Nigel Daniel, Sheldon Bateau, Kennedy Hinkson (Elijah Manners 86th), Johan Peltier, Jamal Jack, Hector Sam (Yellow 16), Willis Plaza (Andrew Smith 74th).
Coach—Earl Carter.
Carter: Jabloteh within striking distance.
Adam’s Construction San Juan Jabloteh head coach Earl Carter is gunning for another win on Friday against Caledonia AIA of Morvant/Laventille following Tuesday’s rescheduled Round One Match Day Three impressive 2-0 win over Digicel Pro League leaders W Connection at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium.
“Before the game Connection had nine points and we had just three points,” said Carter.
“And now we are within striking distance. We are now with six points, three points away from Connection and it sends a message to the other teams by beating W Connection. We have to remember that Connection were undefeated in the League before our game.”
Jabloteh currently occupy third position on the standings with 6 points, one point behind second position T&TEC FC (7 points) and three points away from leaders Connection (9 points).
In-form striker Willis Plaza notched his sixth overall item this season just 10 minutes into the match and Hector Sam sealed the 2-0 victory over Connection with an item in the 79th minute.
“I’m elated for the players in particular because they needed that win,” continued the Jabloteh coach.
“When you are training week in and week out it’s difficult to keep players motivated. The three points we got from our previous three League games really supposed to be nine points with victories.
In my first interview, before I started the job as coach and before our first game, I said that it will be a very interesting season and you can see why I said it will be an interesting season. And we are living up to it.
The win (against W Connection) was a major turning point in the players’ belief in what they are doing on the training field. It was also a major turning point for Jabloteh.”
The former US based coach turned his focus to Friday’s Round One Match Day Six clash against Caledonia from 7pm at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in the second clash of a Super Friday double header.
T&TEC FC will contest W Connection from 5pm in a top of the table clash at the Port of Spain venue, and at the Larry Gomes Stadium from 5pm St. Ann’s Rangers will host DIRECTV North East Stars.
Caledonia defeated Jabloteh 2-1 in the First Citizens Cup semi-final round thanks to a pair of Jamal Gay goals before going on to win the tournament.
“Caledonia was very fortunate against us,” said Carter.
“They won that game by the luck of the draw. They got one shot and scored two. Their first goal was an error by our goalkeeper from a looping ball and the second from the only real opportunity they had. So definitely we are going all out on Friday,” ended the Jabloteh coach.