Trinidad and Tobago Regiment experienced mixed results on their return to the Eddie Hart Football League (EHFL) following the opening round of matches to start the 2009 season at the Eddie Hart Savannah (EHS) in Tacarigua earlier this week.
On Monday, 1TTR (First Trinidad and Tobago Regiment) rallied to share the points with St Joseph United via a 1-1 draw.
Randy Castillo netted the equaliser for the boys from Long Circular Road , St James after Jonathan Rodriguez opened the scoring for St Joseph United midway through the second half.
The following night, First Engineering Battalion's (1st ENG BN) custodian gifted three second half goals to defending champions Parliament FC to rob his side of at least a point to start the season.
Forward Gerard Skeete came on as a substitute late in the second period and netted a brace for Parliament courtesy very poor keeping by the Cumuto-based unit's man between the uprights.
The same could be said for the first item scored by M George for the champs, who were coming off a 1-0 defeat to 2008 Knockout winners Bon Air in the inaugural Community Shield to kick off the season.
This year's league opener was a re-match of the 2008 Big Eight final, which Parliament won 3-1. Also victorious in the opening exchanges of this campaign were debutants Arsenal and Arima Combined, as well as MASSH Internationals, last year's beaten KO finalists.
On Sunday, Arsenal trounced Temple United 4-1 with two goals on either side of the contest. Anderson Chandler grabbed a double, while there were strikes for Donavon Dereck and Akel James.
Enrigue Layne netted the item for Arima's Temple United.
Lorenzo King and Collin Williams hit the mark for Arima Combined to whip St John United 2-0 in a Group Three encounter, the second game of a double-header at the EHS on Monday evening.
And on Wednesday night MASSH scored two late goals in the second half to claim the points in a nice affair against plucky ES Madrid. Ellis Dyatt netted both items for MASSH.
This year's competition will see 26 teams looking to dethrone five-time champions Parliament. The teams will be split into three groups, with the top two from each group going through to the Big Eight playoffs, along with the two best third place teams overall.
Play in the 43rd edition of the league continues at the EHS throughout the week
EHFL groups
Group One-Valtrin United; Spain Slappers; Arouca Hustlers; *Flippers; Caps 98; Pacemakers FC; Arsenal; RSSR; Temple United
Group Two-Parliament FC; Santos; MASSH Internationals; South Eastern; North Hill; ES Madrid; *1st ENG.BN; *Petit Bough Youths; Cadet Force United
Group Three-Bon Air; *Samba Boys; Paradise FC; Trincity Nationals; Arima Combined; St John United; *St Joseph United; El Do Milan; 1TTR.
Note: * indicates the teams that did not take part in the march past. Six points will be deducted from their point tallies at the end of the season.
EHFL title-winners since 2000:
2008-Parliament FC
2007-Santos FC
2006-Valtrin United
2005-House of Dread
2004-House of Dread
2003-Parliament
2002-Parliament
2001-Parliament
2000-Kandahar