UNSUNG Digicel Pro League leaders DIRECTV W Connection have added the 2013 FA Trophy to its Christmas wish list.
The 2013 Digicel Pro League Charity Shield winners and recently crowned Toyota Classic champions, wants one more title before the Christmas break (December 22-January 2), while continuing its flawless form at the top of the 2013-2014 league championship.
Connection, extending its perfect league form to six wins in as many matches by defeating rivals Central FC 1-0 on Saturday, previously joined North East Stars, Central and Super League’s Malabar FC into the semi-final round of the FA Trophy competition.
The three-time FA winners (1999, 2000 and 2002) and six-time finalists, W Connection, are against 2003 winners North East Stars on Wednesday from 7.30 pm in semi-final two at the Ato Boldon Stadium, following the semi-final one clash between last season’s defeated finalists Central and Malabar from 5 pm at the same venue.
The Final and third-place playoff will be contested on Wednesday December 18 at the very same Couva venue.
“Our objective is to try and win the FA (Trophy),” said Connection head coach Stuart Charles Fevrier on Monday.
“We are just two games away from (FA title). But we are also mindful that the other teams want it as well. North East Stars are second in the league at the moment and they are a good team. They are a team that is always competitive and a team you always have to prepare well for. It’s an opponent we respect …just as all our opponents.”
Saturday’s win against Central, which defeated them 3-2 on penalties in the semi-final round of the First Citizens Cup following a goalless draw two months ago, also extended the “Savonnetta Boys” winning run to 11 straight wins, and a record 14 wins and just one defeat in all domestic competitions this season.
“We were really pleased with victory (against Central),” explained Fevrier, the longstanding and very successful Connection coach.
“We were without a number of players (Daneil Cyrus, Jerrel Britto, Jamal Clarence and Joevin Jones) on trials, so I was quite pleased with the professionalism showed by our players against Central.”
He said that Central, winners of this season’s First Citizens Cup, have been very competitive this season. The secret to Connection’s recent form is simple according to Fevrier — “We are always working hard every day to try to maintain that level of consistency,” shared the 54-year-old St Lucian-born coach.
“We have been doing well, but the season is still a long way off. And what is important now, is to take it one game at a time and try to maintain the level of consistency that we are showing now.”
W Connection owner/president David John Williams says its “good form”, and it didn’t come by coincidence.
“We have a decent squad, probably our strongest since 2001, and our players have youth on their side. We have players like 19 year-olds Jomol Williams and Neil Benjamin Jr, and players like Joevin Jones and Mekeil Williams who are young also, but experienced players. Gerard Williams is one of the oldest at 25 and he has probably seven years experience at the Pro League.
“It is a team that we have been building in the last few years. Most of our players now, were also part of our league winning team in 2011-2012.” Williams is also mindful his club will now be the hunted scalp based on its present form.
“We will be the hunted ones based on our form,” he said. “(So) we must remain focused, humble and consistent in our endeavours. We haven’t lost a game in regulation time (in all domestic competitions this season), and conceded just two goals in the league. That says a lot about our defence. We have also been getting goals from all areas of the pitch, even from our wingbacks, and that’s a positive sign for us.
“There is still room for improvement but we are happy where we are at right now.”