Three days after scoring the lone goal in an opening round victory, La Horquetta SA striker Keron Clarke came up big with a four-goal haul in his team’s 4-1 victory over Queen’s Park Cricket Club in the second round of Champions of Champions National Super League qualifiers, on Wednesday.
The victory put La Horquetta clear at the top of the standings, as both other matches resulted in draws. At the Ato Boldon Stadium, Arima, La Horquetta continued its nearly flawless run of form since it captured the Eastern Football Association treble.
Clarke opened the scoring in the sixth minute, capitalising on a defensive error by the Parkites, before claiming a second goal and his hat-trick, in the 21st via a header and a neat finish in the 36th minute, respectively. Clarke completed the rout with his fourth item seven minutes into the second half, when Anton Jackson, the man who set up the second and third goal fed him in for an easy tap-in.
The Parkites could only claim a consolation goal through a Vladimir Suite effort in the 77th minute. After the match, the 267-year-old Clarke said scoring goal was more for the club and the community than himself.
“First off, glory be to God. Without him, we wouldn’t be in this position. I’m just here trying to give back to the community and to help the team achieve sponsorship. We’ve done really well without a sponsor, but some financial backing would really help the team.
Right now we don’t have a home pitch because Phase Two Recreation Ground is in a mess,” said Clarke. The striker, who helped La Horquetta to all three titles after finishing the season as top goal-scorer said that the National Super League is a realistic target even against teams who have stronger financial backing.
“We’re capable (of qualifying). It’s vitally important we do that. It’s bringing positive vibes to the community and is making a serious dent on crime in the area. It’s down to the sacrifice of the administration, coaches and players.
We’re all pushing this for the community.” Up next for La Horquetta is a clash with Eastern Counties’ Matura Reunited at the Maracas Recreation Ground, tomorrow. That fixture will kick off at 3.30 pm. Simultaneously, Petrotrin Palo Seco and QPCC will both be seeking their first wins in the tournament, when they clash at the Palo Seco Recreation Ground.
Today, Tobago’s Goal City will host second-placed Las Lomas United, with the former also attempting to secure a first win in three matches. That match will be played at the Plymouth Recreation Ground, Tobago, from 6 pm.
RESULTS
Goal City FC 3 (Akini Ferguson 20th, 80th, Stephen King 88th) v Petrotrin Palo Seco 3 (Jamal Ayers 8th, Darren Alexis 57th, Willien Garcia 71st)
Matura Reunited 2 (Kerwin Vincent 27th, 54th) v Coosal’s Las Lomas United 2 (Ray Collimore 26th, Deon Lewis 77th)
La Horquetta SA 4 (Keron Clarke 6th, 21st, 36th, 52th) v QPCC 1 (Vladimir Suite 72nd)
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