Versatile Caledonia AIA midfielder Keyon Edwards scored one and was influential in another to guide the Morvant-Laventille club to a 2-0 win over Central FC in the Final of the 2012-13 FA Trophy on Friday night at the Ato Boldon Stadium.
Caledonia, FA winners in 2008 and 2011-12, successfully retained the title with a goal on either side of the half, through strikes by Edwards and midfielder Akim Armstrong respectively, in front of a packed covered stand in the front-yard of FA newcomers Central FC.
Caledonia, coached by Jerry Moe, snatched a 1-0 advantage 32 minutes into the match through determination and poise by attacking midfielder Keyon Edwards who smashed his strike into the roof of goalkeeper Marvin Phillip’s net from an angle.
Edwards pressed Phillip, forcing his Trinidad and Tobago international teammate to poorly control a long back pass by defender Keion Goodridge, and making a steal before showing good composure to blast past the Central goalie at first post. This after an intense opening.
Central's Antiguan forward Peter Byers was denied in the fourth minute of play by Caledonia's Grenadian goalie Shemel Louision, and in the 12th minute Darrell Mitchell deflected effort off a Byers cross only won the Terry Fenwick-coached 'Central Sharks' a corner.
Caledonia also had a look at goal but striker Trevin Caesar failed to even force a save out of Phillip, after hitting wide in the 17th minute.
Caesar followed up in the 37th minute with a breakaway on the right and into the area before hitting miserably high.
The T&T U23 striker finally had it on target three minutes inside the second half with a powerful blast when he was fed through by an Edwards pass, however the Tobagonian was by denied by a flamboyant Phillip save, gloving it out for a corner.
Central had themselves to blame for not plucking a goal back before the break with Byers hitting wide in the 42nd minute.
And in the 57th minute, Mitchell was miserably wide with goalkeeper Louision at his mercy, when he volleyed off target from above the six yard area with time and space at his disposal.
Armstrong then handed Caledonia a 2-0 cushion in the 69th minute with a superb curling effort past Phillip from inside the area.
Referee Neil Brizan had allowed play-on after Central left-back Adrian Noel tried stopping getaway player, Edwards who did enough to string a pass to Armstrong who made a dash for goal inside the area between two Central players.
Mitchell did well to interrupt Armstrong who later curled the free ball past Phillip.
Caledonia later held on for its third title in the last five FA tournaments, also becoming the first team in the last 13 years to successfully defend the title.
Caledonia, who also successfully defending the First Citizens Cup this season, was inches wide of a third item on Friday night in the 82nd minute when Caesar drilled in a low strike off Argentine Miguel Alejandro Romeo's cross.
And in injury time Ceasar had a free-kick crack from distance that Phillip made a solid block-out.
Caledonia, winners of four titles last season, will celebrate its victory over the weekend before refocusing on its ultimate goal of winning the Digicel Pro League title.
The Morvant-Laventille club is currently seated second on the standings with 29 points, 4 points adrift of leaders Defence Force (33 points) after Round Two.
Defence Force will tackle St. Ann's Rangers from 7pm on Saturday at the Marvin Lee Stadium in Round Three Match Day One, following a 5pm clash between T&TEC FC and Police FC.
Caledonia, Central and Round Three Match Day One opponents North East Stars and W Connection will all have the weekend off as a result of the first mentioned teams FA Final commitments.
However Central will take the field against North East Stars on Wednesday 6 March at the Ato Boldon Stadium in a rescheduled Round One Match Day Six fixture from 6pm.
FA Final Result
Central FC 0—2 Caledonia AIA
Keyon Edwards 32’, Akim Armstrong 69’
Teams
Central FC—Marvin Phillip (capt.), Fabien Lewis (Yellow Card) (Weslie John 50th) (Yellow Card), Keion Goodridge (Yellow Card), Carey Harris, Anthony Wolfe, Marvin Oliver, Peter Byers, Adrian Noel, Justin Fojo (Darryl Trim 70th), Jason Marcano, Darrell Mitchell (Hayden Tinto 70th).
Coach—Terry Fenwick.
Caledonia AIA—Shemel Louision, Stephan David (capt.), Aubrey David, Collin Nelson, Trevin Caesar, Keyon Edwards (Yellow Card), Akim Armstrong (Vurlon Mills 86th), Akeem Thomas (Nuru Abdallah Muhammad 68th), Miguel Alejandro Romeo, Densill Theobald (Sheldon Holder 75th), Kareem Joseph.
Coach—Jerry Moe.
Digicel Pro League fixtures
Round Three Match Day One
Saturday 2 March 2013
Marvin Lee Stadium
T&TEC FC vs Police FC--5pm
St. Ann's Rangers vs Defence Force--7pm
Rescheduled Round One Match Day Six fixture
Wednesday 6 March 2013
Ato Boldon Stadium
North East Stars vs Central FC--6pm