Former Trinidad and Tobago Under-20 player Kishun Seecharan scored on either side of the break on Wednesday night as Defence Force bounced back from last Sunday's disappointing First Citizens Cup final defeat to whip Point Fortin Civic 5-1 in the Digicel Pro League (DPL).
Connection, who also defeated North East Stars 3-0 in the quarter-finals of the First Citizens Cup en route to lifting the title with a 4-0 over Defence Force in the final, hosted the Roland Clarke coached-Sangre Grande outfit in the first match of a Round One Match Day Five DPL double-header at the Ato Boldon Stadium on Wednesday night.
Neil Benjamin Jr. opened the scoring in the 25th minute for the Stuart Charles-Fevrier coached-Connection before second half goals from Shahdon Winchester and Andre Toussaint in the 47th and 67th minutes, respectively, sealed the Savonetta Boys first win of the 2015-16 DPL while extending their undefeated streak to 12 games in all competitions.
In the second match at the Couva venue, defending DPL champions Central FC held off a resolute second-half performance by Police to win a 4-3 thriller.
The Couva Sharks scored three times in the first half with a goal each from Ataullah Guerra, Marcus Joseph and Elijah Manners in the 18th, 35th and 43rd minutes, respectively.
However Jason Marcano’s 65th minute goal proved crucial for the Ross Russell coached-Central after Police found the back of the net three times in the second half with a goal from Kareem Freitas in the 64th minute and a double from Makesi Lewis, who scored in the 78th and 90th minutes.
Up north, in the second clash of a double-header hosted at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Seecharan too was celebrating a double—and his came in Defence Force’s 5-1 victory over Civic after San Juan Jabloteh defeated St. Ann’s Rangers 2-0 in the earlier contest with second half goals from Tyrone Charles and Nathan Lewis in the 60th and 67th minutes, respectively.
Seecharan scored in the 18th and 55th minutes for the Marvin Gordon coached-Defence Force while teammates Jerwyn Balthazar, Kerry Joseph and Kellon Serrette grabbed a goal each in the 21st, 58th and 90th minutes, respectively.
Civic, with 4 points from five DPL games, got their lone item in the 76th minute through forward Shackiel Henry. The Point Fortin club will return to action on Saturday against cellar-placed Club Sando from 4 pm at the Ato Boldon Stadium followed by a 6 pm kick-off between fourth place W Connection and seventh place St. Ann’s Rangers.
Also on Saturday, North East Stars will face ninth place Morvant Caledonia United from 3:30 pm at the Larry Gomes Stadium.
But the action kicks off on Friday with Police FC against Defence Force from 6 pm at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, followed by an 8 pm kick-off between Jabloteh and Central FC.
Digicel Pro League Results
San Juan Jabloteh 2 (Tyrone Charles 60', Nathan Lewis 67') vs St. Ann's Rangers 0.
Defence Force 5 (Kishun Seecharan 18’, 55’, Jerwyn Balthazar 21’, Kerry Joseph 58’, Kellon Serrette 90’) vs Point Fortin Civic 1 (Shackiel Henry 76').
W Connection 3 (Neil Benjamin Jr. 25’, Shahdon Winchester 47’, Andre Toussaint 67') vs North East Stars 0.
Police FC 3 (Kareem Freitas 64’, Makesi Lewis 78’, 90’) vs Central FC 4 (Ataullah Guerra 18’, Marcus Joseph 35’, Elijah Manners 43’, Jason Marcano 65’)
Club Sando vs Morvant Caledonia United - (To be rescheduled)
Teams
Central FC: 21.Jan-Michael Williams; 15.Kaydion Gabriel, 4.Andre Ettienne, 12.Jamal Jack, 3.Keion Goodridge; 25.Elijah Manners; 8.Sean De Silva, 45.Ataullah Guerra (19.Nathaniel Garcia 76), 99.Marcus Joseph, 7.Jason Marcano; 33.Willis Plaza (6.Kerry Baptiste 74).
Unused substitutes: 30.Akel Clarke (GK), 5.Akeem Benjamin, 11.Darren Mitchell, 17.Marcelle Francois, 26.Jem Gordon.
Coach: Ross Russell
Police FC: 1.Adrian Foncette; 4.Karlon Murray, 5.Anton Hutchinson, 20.Elijah Belgrave; 6.Jibiri McDavid, 21.Todd Ryan (captain) (16.Keon Wilson 71), 14.Kaaron Foster (12.Kevin Lewis 71), 17.Nequan Caruth; 10.Kareem Freitas (18.Dylon King 77), 19.Christon Thomas; 9.Makesi Lewis.
Unused substitutes: 22.Keinol Paul (GK), 2.Jasimar Ashers, 8.Kurdell Brathwaite, 15.Jameel Perry.
Coach: Richard Hood
Referee: Dennis Changiah
Upcoming Matches
Friday 11 December
Police FC vs Defence Force—6 pm, Hasely Crawford Stadium
San Juan Jabloteh vs Central FC—8 pm, Hasely Crawford Stadium
Saturday 12 December
Club Sando vs Point Fortin Civic—4 pm, Ato Boldon Stadium
W Connection vs St. Ann’s Rangers—6 pm, Ato Boldon Stadium
North East Stars vs Morvant Caledonia United—3:30 pm, Larry Gomes Stadium