THE “Eastern Lions” Joe Public stayed on top the 12-team standings in the Sportworld Super League with a 3-0 whipping of WASA Clean & White at the WASA Ground, St Joseph yesterday. But Crab Connection remained two points back of the leaders with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Maraval Youth Academy at Trinity College Ground, Moka, Maraval. The day’s biggest surprise however, took place at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo where the cellar-placed Media 21 FC earned only their second point of the season, with a 3-3 draw against the sliding Police outfit. At the WASA Ground, the hosts seemed determine to rebound from their 3-0 loss to the “Lions” in the Knock-Out final with a win. But there was no way back following goals from Jamaicans Wolrey Wolfe in the 40th and Carlington Smith five minutes later.
Smith would seal full points for Joe Public in the 73rd. Ricardo Bennett gave the “Crabs” an early lead, after three minutes of play, before Joel Felicien equalised for Maraval in the 19th. But Marvin Oliver, who like Marlon Warner is back in the fold for Crabs pending an appeal for season-ending disciplinary bans, got the winner in the 40th. With WASA’s setback, Superstar Rangers moved to third place with a tense 3-3 draw against Stokely Vale at the Dwight Yorke Stadium, Bacolet. A 26th minute freekick from Warren Phillips put Stokely Vale in front, but Rangers replied with three goals, from Akudu Goodridge (42nd), Kerwin Cooper (43rd) and ex-national Under-17 captain Josimar Belgrave (80th). Rangers were unable to maintain their advantage, as Sean Christmas reduced the deficit to 3-2 in the 82nd and Phillips got the equaliser courtesy a 90th minute penalty.
The Police-Media 21 contest followed a similar pattern, with a Neri Joseph 15th minute opener cancelled out with goals from Kevon Fredericks (53rd), Junior Spencer (68th) and Keon Devenish (77th). Joseph will have another say in the match, as he ended Media’s hopes of a shock win, with strikes in the 83rd and 88th. PLIPDECO Caroni and M&M Harvard also battled to an exciting 3-3 draw at Gilbert Park, Couva. The hosts were 2-0 up through Hayden Vincent (third) and Jesse De Four (16th) before Natango Inniss pulled one back in the 23rd. Jason Cudjoe’s 75th minute strike gave Caroni a 3-1 lead, but they were unable to hold on for full points, due to Harvard’s Ahkel Sairbain (86th) and Seon Jack (89th penalty). In the other match yesterday, Couva Players United crushed Angostura 1976 FC Phoenix 4-1 at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva. Jonathan Marcelle (18th), Quami Knights (44th) and Keith Williams (66th) put Couva 3-0 up before the prolific Dominique Kerr pulled one back for the Tobagonians in the 76th, but Lyndon Bruno secured the win for the hosts in the 89th.