Connection beats Rangers, Army lose against Caledonia, T&TEC held by North East, Jabloteh edges Police

However it was a less than impressive display by the recently crowned 2011-12 Toyota Classic champions needing a second half own goal by Devon Modeste to do the damage against the financially struggled St. Ann’s club that discontinued the services of striker Errol Mc Farlane and midfielder Trent Noel at the end of November. The two former Trinidad and Tobago internationals were on short term deals.

The win pushed Connection into second position on the ladder with 12 points from 7 games, one point behind leaders T&TEC FC (13 points from 5 games) which hosts DIRECTV North East Stars from 6pm at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium on Saturday.

Rangers played a pretty defensive system throughout and from a set piece five minutes before the break forced a magnificent one-handed save out of Connection goalie Jan Michael Williams to keep out Clevon Mc Fee’s deflected shot which started from a set piece.

And one minute later on the opposite end, Connection’s Matthew Bartholomew picked up on an error by defender 4, controlled on his thigh before blasting a volley wide of the far upright.

Connection then introduced standout teenaged midfielder Jomal Williams in the 60th minute replacing Andre Quashie and seconds later from his first touch on the ball, set striker hasim Arcia forward and his shot on goal forced the own goal by Modeste in which goalkeeper Shane Mattis had little chance.

And three minutes from time Jomal provided Arcia with a point blank opportunity inside the six yard area, however the lanky Connection forward fired directly at goalkeeper Mattis who made a good wrap.

Jomal was at it again in the 92nd minute, this time his decent effort on first post was shaved wide by the gloves of Mattis.

Connection next faces Defence Force in Round Two Match Day Three on Tuesday 20 December—the final match-day of the year, while Rangers currently sixth on the standings will take on Adam’s Construction San Juan Jabloteh from 8pm at the Ato Boldon Stadium.

Jabloteh will be in action on Saturday 17 December from 6pm at the Larry Gomes Stadium against Police FC ahead of next Tuesday’s final match-day of the year.

St. Ann’s Rangers 0—1 W Connection
Devon Modeste 61’ (own goal)

Teams

St. Ann’s Rangers—Shane Mattis, Kareem Moses (capt.), Larry Bacchus, Clevon Mc Fee, Elijah Belgrave, Mikhail Awai, Kaashif Thomas (Theon James 76th), Keron Alexander, Shaquille Nesbitte, Akil Clarke, Devon Modeste

Coach—Anthony Streete

W Connection—Jan Michael Williams (capt.), Akeem Benjamin, Mekeil Williams, Kern Cupid, Gerrard Williams, Joevin Jones, Andre Quashie (Jomal Williams 60th), Matthew Bartholomew (Kemuel Rivers 64th), Shahdon Winchester, Hashim Arcia, Keron Cummings (Neil Benjamin 78th)

Coach—Stuart Charles Fevrier 
 
Roy betters Jorsling, but Army lose against Caledonia

Defence Force striker Richard Roy started with a bang, netting a double in his team’s first outing of the 2011-12 season on Friday night at the Larry Gomes Stadium.

But it just wasn’t enough as former strike teammate Devorn Jorsling, sporting Caledonia AIA colours, celebrated a 3-2 win against the soldiers.

Jorsling, who guided Defence Force to the 2010-11 Digicel Pro League Championship and is currently in Trinidad while the USL where he had a stint with Orlando City is in its offseason, whipped in a trademark leftfooted curling freekick from outside the area past goalkeeper Kevin Graham in the 67th minute for Caledonia’s third and final item of the match.

It was midfielder Ataullah Guerra who pounced early, powerfully heading Caledonia in front 1-0 in the fifth minute after the Army defense remained scattered by Kareem Joseph’s cross from the right to find his teammate rushing in at the back post.

And Guyanese international Walter Moore then cushioned Caledonia 2-0 in the 25th minute when he slid in to meet another Joseph from the right, directing it past Graham.

A rusty looking Defence Force, having only been back together for the past two weeks because of the recently lifted State of Emergency implemented by the Trinidad and Tobago Government, had an excellent opportunity three minutes inside the second period after an errant pass in defense by Caledonia gifted the ball to Roy who squared a pass to Kevon Carter. However Carter’s attempted shot was curbed by defender Nuru Abdullah Muhammad.

Roy then took it up on himself in the 53rd minute unleashing a powerful blast past goalkeeper Zane Coker to reduce the deficit 2-1.

Jorsling’s item then followed in the 67th for the 3-1 score in favour of Caledonia, while Defence Force was left without its furious head coach Ross Russell who was ejected after disputing the call by referee Neil Brizan that gave the freekick.

Defender Rondell Elcock seemed totally legal, winning an air ball with the head outside the area against Jamal Gay but to the astonishment of the soldiers, Brizan blew for a foul.

It wasn’t the first time the official seemed to have it wrong. In the 12th minute of play Caledonia defender Aquil Selby was booked by Brizan after teammate Nuru Abdullah Muhammad was actually the player that tugged Roy to the ground just before the area.

Meantime Caledonia coach Jamaal Shabazz was all about business introducing three attacking substitutes in Micah Lewis, Trevin Caesar and Keyon Edwards against the ‘rusty soldiers’ that were marred by poor passing.

Caesar utilized his pace well ten minutes from time against the soldiers’ defense but only managed to find the side netting.

And in the 90th minute Roy wrapped up his double when he drove a low shot past the right of Coker after he was picked out by a cheeky substitute Sterling O’Brian heeled pass.

In the end Caledonia enjoyed its second consecutive League victory, while newcomers Guerra and Jorsling are two goals in two matches since joining the Morvant/Laventille club during the December transfer window.

Caledonia will take on DIRECTV North East Stars from 6pm at the Ato Boldon Stadium on Tuesday 20 December in Round Two Match Day Three—the final match-day of the year, while Defence Force goes up against W Connection from 6pm at the Larry Gomes Stadium.

Defence Force 2—3 Caledonia AIA
Richard Roy 53’, 88’  ;  Ataullah Guerra 5’, Walter Moore 25’, Devorn Jorsling 67’

Defence Force—Kevin Graham, Jerwyn Balthazar (capt.) (Jahvon Neptune 73rd), Keston Williams (yellow card), Richard Roy, Kerry Joseph (yellow card) (Ross Russell Jr. 59th), Kevon Carter, Dexter Thornhill (Sterling O’Brian 76th), Sean Narcis, Rondell Elcock, Curtis Gonzales, Dwight Scott

Coach—Ross Russell

Caledonia AIA—Zane Coker, Stephan David (capt.), Sheldon Emmanuel, Aquil Selby, Ataullah Guerra (yellow card), Abdallah Phillips (Micah Lewis 67th), Jamal Gay (Trevin Caesar 76th), Devorn Jorsling (Keyon Edwards 85th), Walter Moore, Kareem Joseph, Nuru Abdullah Muhammad

Coach—Jamaal Shabazz.
 
T&TEC held by North East, Jabloteh edges Police  

Digicel Pro League Championship leaders T&TEC FC dropped points on Saturday evening at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium with a goalless draw against visiting DIRECTV North East Stars.

And in another Round Two Match Day Two fixture on Saturday, Adam’s Construction San Juan Jabloteh squeezed a 1-0 win over Police FC at the Larry Gomes Stadium.

Jason Marcano’s ninth minute strike separated Jabloteh from the ‘lawmen’ to return to second position on the standings with 12 points, the same as W Connection but ahead by a better goals difference.

The one point earned by T&TEC, sees the Dexter Cyrus coached side just two points ahead of the chase with 14 points, while North East Stars are fifth with just 8 points.

League action continues on Tuesday 20 December with the final match-day before the Christmas break when Caledonia AIA fresh from a 3-2 win over Defence Force takes on North East Stars from 6pm at the Ato Boldon Stadium and two hours later at the same Couva venue, Jabloteh are against St. Ann’s Rangers coming off a slim 1-0 defeat against W Connection on Friday.

Defending champs Defence Force will travel east to take on W Connection at the Larry Gomes Stadium and T&TEC hosts Police FC at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium with 6pm kickoff times for both matches.