LEADERS San Juan Jabloteh dropped points for the first time after seven matches this season in the 2011 Lucky Bakery Women's Super League when held to a 1-1 draw by defending champions Water One Real Dimension in the late match on Friday night at Barataria Oval.
The draw ensured both teams remained unbeaten. Jabloteh still lead the pack with 19 points, while Real Dimension (15 points) held second prior to last night's meeting between the also unbeaten National Under-17 team (14 points) and tough Trincity Nationals.
Earlier on Friday night, the Ross Russell-trained Defence Force recorded a 3-0 victory over Arima Giants.
In the second game, Jabloteh trailed to a spectacular 29th minute free-kick from hard-kicking Trinidad and Tobago midfielder Karyn "Baby" Forbes, but after resisting plenty pressure in the first half, Jabloteh pulled level in the 67th when Kennya "Ya Ya' Cordner's tearing run from midfield ended with the national striker planting a rocket into the top far corner of the net.
Both goals were spectacular and, among a good turnout of limers, national team assistant coach Hutson Charles appeared impressed.
Early on, Real Dimension terrorised Jabloteh through the powerful runs of T&T striker Candice Edwards and the ever-present danger presented by Forbes' powerful free-kicks. Still, it was Jabloteh who could have gone ahead early against the run of play, but Jennel Kissoon had a penalty saved by 17-year-old St George's College keeper Xia Russell.
But when Forbes finally got her free-kick right, former national goalie Nicole Mitchell could not stop it.
Regular Real Dimension starters, striker Alania Burgin and first-choice keeper Chantal Roberts, only arrived near the half-time mark, but with Jabloteh improving in the second half, Real Dimension brought on both late-comers and tried to hold the lead.
However, keeper Roberts was on just in time to concede Cordner's spectacular goal in the 67th minute. Taking the ball near half-line, speedy Cordner went on a wild run in which she eased by defenders Christine Rose, Ria Belgrave and Nadia James before burying a right-footer. Roberts made a valiant effort, but the ball just kept moving away until it hit the far corner.
Quiet for much of the night, T&T captain Tasha St Louis almost got a late winner with a low shot which just missed the far post.
Jabloteh held by Dimension.
T&T Newsday Reports.
NATIONAL PLAYERS Karyn Forbes and Kenya Cordner each found the back of the net, for their respective teams, as Real Dimension held leaders San Juan Jabloteh to a 1-1 draw in their top-of-the-table clash in the Lucky Bakery-sponsored National Women’s Super League on Friday.
Forbes put Dimension in front on the half-hour mark at the Barataria Oval, with a precisely placed 30-metre freekick, before Cordner evened up the scores in the 54th minute.
Defence Force registered a pair of victories, in the space of three days, at the expense of the lowly pair of Arima Giants and North Coast United, to jump from eighth place to fifth on the nine-team standings.
In the first game of Friday’s double-header, Defence Force cruised past Arima 3-0, with Shinice Pierre netting a double, in the 27th and 82nd minutes, while Kimberly Cedeno got the other in the 64th.
And, two days earlier, at Blanchisseuse, Defence Force spanked hosts North Coast 7-0, with Pierre registering a hat-trick (21st, 29th, 50th), while Akila George (37th), Cedeno (55th), Felicia Robinson (77th) and Arlene Williams (82nd) chipped in with one apiece.
STANDINGS
P W D L F A Pts
San Juan Jabloteh 7 6 1 0 55 2 19
Real Dimension 7 4 3 0 28 3 15
National Under-17 6 4 2 0 11 0 14
Trincity Nationals 7 3 1 3 29 11 10
Defence Force 6 3 0 3 12 7 9
Malick City 6 2 3 1 19 6 8
Arima Giants 7 2 0 5 9 36 6
North Coast 6 0 0 6 2 45 0
Tunapuna Titans 6 0 0 6 4 60 0