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Fri, Mar

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Sangre Grande based club North East Stars held off a courageous challenge from Super League club Stokely Vale on Friday night to advance into the Toyota Classic Final with a 4:1 penalty win.

Stokely Vale's tournament 'Cinderella' story ended on kicks following a 1:1 semi-final draw at the Hasely Crawford Stadium--the very same venue that the Tobagonians defeated Caledonia AIA 6:5 on penalties after a 3:3 draw in the quarter-finals last Tuesday.

The difference--North East Stars had goalkeeper Cleon John between the uprights and he made two shut-outs denying Rohan Sebro and Domminic Mc Dougall in Stokely's second and third kicks.

While North East Stars were clinical from the spot with Cornell Glen, Elijah Manners, Kerry Baptiste and captain Seon Power all beating goalkeeper Victor Thomas for the 4:1 kicks from the penalty mark finish and securing a spot in the Final on Friday 7 December at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.

Thomas was beaten in the 42nd minute of play by Glen's delicate finish from a tight angle for a 1:0 Stars advantage before Tyrone Manning tied the scores 1:1 at the hour mark from a powerfully struck header.

The tightly contested encounter limited chances at goal on either side of the half.

Stars' defender Kareem Young had the first opening but placed a Jayson Joseph freekick wide of the post in the 11th minute, and on the other in the 28th minute Stokely Vale's Deon Thomas mustered a shot from outside the area to force a tip behind by goalkeeper John.

Glen then snatched the opener after a Kaydion Gabriel switched the side with a long cross to Micah Lewis who sent a low pass across the six yard area finding the Trinidad and Tobago 2006 World Cup striker who showed great composure to find the far netting.

Seven minutes inside the second period Manning, scorer of the equalizer and Stokely's only item on kicks from the spot, was denied by the upright.

Manning met Mc Dougall cross inside the area heading towards goal only to see his effort crash onto the upright after beating goalkeeper John.

And a minute later John had to make a save against striker Rundell Winchester.

Winchester, double goalscorer against Police FC in his team's 5:0 preliminary round win and scorer of one against Caledonia, only troubled the Stars defense with his sturdy presence.

But Manning proved too much in a reproduction of the play in which he was denied by the upright. Recorded as the 60th minute Manning towered inside the area before powerfully heading Mc Dougall's cross past the North East Stars goalie making it anyone's game.

However after locking the scores at 1:1 that's how it remained at the final whistle forcing the match to kicks from the spot.

Glen had an excellent opportunity in the 71st minute when he was played in by a perfectly placed Glenton Wolfe cross from the left behind the Stokely Vale defense, however Glen only managed to head high over bar.

And a minute later Glen forced a great save out of goalkeeper Thomas    with a blast from outside the area.

Kicks from the penalty spot

North East Stars (4)  -  Stokely Vale (1)
Cornell Glen (scored) - Tyrone Manning (scored)
Elijah Manners (scored) - Rohan Sebro (saved)
Kerry Baptiste (scored) - Domminic Mc Dougall (saved)
Seon Power (scored)

Regulation time score

North East Stars 1 - 1 Stokely Vale
Cornell Glen 42'  ;  Tyrone Manning 60'

Teams

North East Stars--Cleon John, Seon Power (capt.), Kareem Young, Glenton Wolfe, Kennedy Hinkson, Keryn Navarro, Jeromie Williams, Micah Lewis (Elijah Manners 76th), Jayson Joseph (Kerry Baptiste 69th), Kaydion Gabriel, Cornell Glen (Yellow Card).

Coach--Angus Eve.

Stokely Vale--Victor Thomas, Trevonne James (capt.) (Antonio Balfour 90th), Wayne Watson, Rundell Winchester (Yellow Card), Deon Thomas, Jamain Walters, Rohan Sebro (Yellow Card), Deon Thomas (Yellow Card) (Onasi Ford 69th), Omar Charles, Travis Winchester (Darron Williams 75th), Tyrone Manning.

Coach--James Campbell.