Kerin Vincent scored a second-half double as Matura Re United outgunned Sports & Games FC Santa Rosa 4-2 to delay the latter’s T&T Football Association National Super League Premier Division title celebrations on Sunday.
Going into match at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar, Santa Rosa (48 points) held a five points lead over last year’s winners Defence Force and with a victory could have claimed the crown depending on the outcome of the “Teteron Men” encounter with Petrotrin Palo Seco.
However, Matura was in the mood to play spoiler and led 2-0 at the half-time interval thanks to a goal apiece from Shervin Charles in the 32nd, and Joel Hoyte four minutes later.
Four minutes after the restart, Vincent extended the lead to 3-0 before Santa Rosa mounted a fightback and closed to within a goal at 3-2 after items from Rashad Griffith in the 57th and Keston Henry in the 61st.
But with eight minutes left in the match, Vincent got his second to push Matura’s lead to 4-2 after which they held on for the unlikely win.
Despite the loss, Santa Rosa stayed on course for the title as Defence Force collapsed in the final ten minutes and allowed a 2-0 advantage to slip in a 2-2 draw with hosts Petrotrin Palo Seco at the Palo Seco Municipal Stadium.
The “Teteron Men” looked well set for a comfortable win after goals from Stephan Antoine (23rd) and Akil Morris (35th), but in the 80th, Tigana Sparks got Petrotrin Palo Seco back in the match, before Brent Garcia netted two minutes to earn a share of the points.
Third placed Club Sando Moruga also missed a chance to close in on the top two after it rallied for a 2-2 draw at Grand Chemin Recreation with Kyle Morgan (91st) and Nigel John (93rd) scoring late to cancel out a double from Dominique Kerr, in the second and 75th.
In other matches, fourth placed Guaya United whipped Siparia Spurs 3-1 led by a brace from Kevin Jagdeosingh; WASA FC trashed Bethel United 6-1; Real Maracas edged Police FC 1-0 and Queen’s Park Cricket Club blanked Marabella Family Crisis Centre, 2-0.
December 11th Matches
Police FC vs QPCC, St James Police Barracks (inside field), 3.30pm
1976 FC Phoenix vs Marabella Family CC, Canaan Rec. Grd, Bon Accord, 5pm
Bethel United vs Club Sando Moruga, Mt Gomery Rec. Grd, 6pm
FC Santa Rosa vs Real Maracas, Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya, 5pm
Siparia Spurs vs Matura Re United, Iriwn Park, Siparia, 5pm
Defence Force vs Guaya United, Defence Force Headquarters, Chaguaramas, 3.30pm
WASA FC vs Petrotrin Palo Seco, WASA Grd, St Joseph, 3.30pm
December 2nd Results
Guaya United 3 (Jody Allsop 39th, Kevin Jagdeosingh 45th, 78th) vs Siparia Spurs 1 (Andy London 21st)
WASA FC 6 (own goal 18th, Nathan Julien 40th, Kirth Hutchinson 42nd, Gary Glasgow 52nd, Dwight Crichlow 65th, Glen Walker 90th) vs Bethel United 1(Akeel Scott 61st)
Club Sando Moruga 2 (Kyle Morgan 91st, Nigel John 93rd) vs 1976 FC Phoenix 2(Dominique Kerr 2nd, 75th)
Real Maracas 1 (Marvin Oliver 58th) vs Police FC 0
Matura Re United 4 (Shervin Charles 32nd, Joel Hoyte 36th, Kerin Vincent 49th, 82nd) vs FC Santa Rosa 2 (Rashad Griffith 57th, Keston Henry 61st)
Petrotrin Palo Seco 2 (Tigana Sparks 80th, Brent Garcia 82nd) vs Defence Force 2 (Stephan ANtoine 23rd, Akil Morris 35th)
QPCC 2 (Jared Bennett 19th, Kevaughn John 76th) vs Marabella Family CC 0
Teams P W D L F A Pts
1. Santa Rosa 24 14 6 4 51 27 48
2. Defence Force 24 12 8 4 58 43 44
3. Club Sando Moruga 24 11 6 7 43 45 39
4. Guaya Utd 24 11 5 8 53 37 38
5. Matura Re Utd 24 10 6 8 49 50 36
6. Police FC 24 9 8 7 33 32 35
7. WASA FC 24 9 6 9 40 40 33
8. Siparia Spurs 24 9 6 9 52 53 33
9. 1976 Phoenix 24 6 13 5 41 37 31
10. Petrotrin P/Seco 24 8 6 10 56 52 30
11. Real Maracas 24 8 4 12 41 46 28
12. QPCC 24 6 7 11 38 47 25
13. Bethel Utd 24 6 5 13 38 60 23
14. Marabella Family 24 5 2 17 29 52 17