It was a noisy, successful start to Digicel Pro League life for Point Fortin Civic Football Club (Formerly Point Fortin Civic Centre).
They won 4-1 over Police at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva on Friday night, drew a crowd, and played some good football as well. Their future is hopeful.
Civic Centre brought out their artillery, and their people seem to follow as well. Andre Toussaint and Mathew Bartholomew, once starters at W Connection, both netted. So too did Marcus Joseph, formerly of Joe Public, who recently visited Saudi Arabia with the Trinidad and Tobago national senior team. Add former T&TEC striker Sylvester Teesdale, and in short time Civic Centre have organised a very competitive team.
“All these players are from Point. These guys come from the different villages,” Civic Centre manager Ken McCrea said. “They always wanted to come back to play and have been in our programme at some time or the other.”
It couldn’t have been a better start for Civic Centre.
Toussaint, who was with Neal & Massy Caledonia AIA last season, opened the scoring in the 16th minute, finishing from close up after Bartholomew re-directed Joseph’s cross his way. Joseph then made it 2-0 in the 36th when his powerful shot deflected inside Police keeper Adrian Foncette’s near post. And two minutes later, Bartholomew curled the ball inside the far post, for the first of his two goals on the night. The rhythm section blared and fans were dancing.
“All these people last night were Point people. That is what we can bring to the Pro League,” McCrea declared. “We can bring out our people. Point people have been starved of football. They want rhythm sections, they want flag, they want entertainment.”
It couldn’t have been a better start for Point.
The second half saw the teams better matched. Police pulled a goal back in the 63rd minute when Todd Ryan headed in a free kick to take the score to 3-1. But Bartholomew finished off the lawmen in the 84th when successfully converting a penalty. Referee Larry Lalchan immediately pointed to the penalty spot after Teesdale was fouled by Police defender Karlon Murray, and Bartholomew did the rest.
McCrea felt that his team played a good, technical first half, and believes that they will improve as the season continues, under the guidance of coach Reynold Carrington, a former national team midfielder who did his coaching apprenticeship at three-time Pro champions W Connection.
The start has been good, and Point people seem to like what they see. Civic Centre are now hoping the business community also buys into what they are trying to create.
That Civic Centre are in the Pro League is a brave venture in itself. They do not have major finances, and are a community team. Steve David owns World Wide Safety, and is putting his money where his mouth is. His company’s logo is on their jerseys. Civic Centre have also taken a unique approach to professional football. They do not have the finances to directly contract players, so they have partnered with local contractors to provide employment for some.
“We have gotten support from some of the smaller contractors in the area (in providing work for players),” McCrea said. “The Point Fortin Mayor has also committed to hiring seven players, and they will work with the borough. We have also approached Petrotrin, as the biggest company in the area, to try and start an apprenticeship programme.”
Point Fortin wows supporters on Pro League debut with 4-1 win over Police
ttproleague.com.
Point Fortin Civic FC got off to a winning start on Friday night in the Digicel Pro League by mauling Police FC 4-1 in the second match of a double header at the Ato Boldon Stadium.
A double by Matthew Bartholomew and an item each by Andre Toussaint and Trinidad and Tobago midfielder Marcus Joseph were more than enough to win the hearts of over 2,000 fans that showed up at the Couva venue.
Toussaint, a former W Connection, Joe Public, T&TEC FC and Caledonia AIA forward, fired Point Fortin ahead in the 16th minute for a 1-0 advantage in the Round One Match Day One fixture.
The ex-T&T international was played at the edge of the six yard area, for an easy tap in, by Bartholomew, who knocked back a Lyndon Diaz' cross which left goalkeeper Adrian Foncette beaten.
Then Joseph, who forced the debuting Police goalkeeper into action twice earlier, handed the southerners a 2-0 cushion in the 36th minute.
Joseph, a former Joe Public midfielder, spanked a low left-footed strike towards the near post which Foncette allowed to slip into goal.
The former North East Stars goalie was beaten again two minutes later when Toussaint slipped a pass forward to send Bartholomew free behind the defense and the former T&T U-20 and 23 forward made no mistake hitting into far netting for a 3-0 score before the break.
Police, which had its closest effort of the first half shave the top of the netting from a Trent Noel freekick, finally pulled a goal back in the 63rd minute.
Todd Ryan's glancing header off an Akiba Peters free kick from the left got past T&T and Point Fortin goalie Marvin Phillip to reduce the deficit 1-3.
On the opposite end Point Fortin had a chance to bury a fourth item in the 76th minute, but Bartholomew with goalkeeper Foncette at his mercy allowed himself to be closed-down against the recovering Police.
And despite burying a penalty in the 84th minute after a foul on Kerron Neptune by Karlon Murray, Bartholomew missed another open play opportunity in the final play of five added on minutes.
Nevertheless Point Fortin, bettering that of a 3-1 Central FC win over defending champions Defence Force in the earlier match, debuts at the top of the table.
On Saturday Round One Match Day One continues when St. Ann's Rangers hosts DIRECTV W Connection from 5pm at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, and Caledonia AIA takes on North East Stars from 7pm in the second match of the Port of Spain double header.
Results
Police FC 1—4 Point Fortin Civic FC
Todd Ryan 63’ ; Andre Toussaint 16’, Marcus Joseph 36’, Matthew Bartholomew 38’, 84’(PEN)
Teams
Police FC—29. Adrian Foncette, 21. Todd Ryan, 5. Anton Hutchinson (Yellow Card), 4. Karlon Murray, 8. Akiba Peters (Yellow Card), 2. Jasimar Ashers, 6. Kenaz Williams (15. Jameel Perry 62nd), 10. Trent Noel, 23. Christon Thomas (40. Joel Kevin Lewis 46th), 20. Elijah Belgrave, 7. Errol Charles.
Unused substitutes—Theon Browne; 26. Dwayne Salazar, 17. Dexter Alleyne, 37. Jabari Williams, 9. Keon Quow.
Coach—Richard Hood.
Point Fortin Civic FC—1. Marvin Phillip; 6. Kelvin Modeste (capt), 2. Garyl Doldron (Yellow Card), 3. Lyndon Diaz, 4. Wesley John, 5. Andre Ettienne, 17. Glen Sutton (8. Steven Joseph 62nd), 19. Andrei Pacheco, 10. Marcus Joseph (15. Kerron Neptune 63rd), 9. Matthew Bartholomew, 11. Andre Toussaint (20. Sylvester Teesdale 75th).
Unused substitutes—22. Akini Adams; 29. Kevin Rouse, 18. Akeem Readhead, 14. Bevon Bass.
Coach—Reynold Carrington.
Match Referee—Larry Lalchan.
By Lasana Liburd (Wired868)
Central FC kicked off its 2013/14 Digicel Pro League campaign in style tonight as the “Couva Sharks” recovered from a one-goal deficit to stun defending champions Defence Force 3-1 at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva.
There was as much action off the field as on it with over 2,000 spectators in attendance for the Pro League opener. By the second fixture of the double header, it was clear who the majority of the spectators had come to see.
Point Fortin Civic Football Club brought colour, noise and more than a few supporters to the Pro League as the team from deep south marked its return to the top flight with an emphatic 4-1 mauling of Police FC.
New National Security Minister Gary Griffith knows a thing or two about sport as a former domestic hockey player. He should look into his servicemen’s football team.
Defence Force was outgunned on the night but coach Ross Russell would get it right on another day as the army/coast guard unit added to the spectacle with a decent performance. But Police was shambolic.
Barely five players had numbers on their back at the kick off while, as the host team, Police also did not show up with a full complement of ball boys. In short, it was not the sort of order one should expect from the country’s protective services.
Point Fortin gave the lawmen the scant respect that they deserved on the night.
Andre Toussaint, who represented Caledonia AIA in the ongoing 2013 CONCACAF Champions League competition, put Point Fortin ahead after 15 minutes with a close range finish after Matthew Bartholomew kept a deep Marcus Joseph cross alive at the far post.
And Joseph, who represented Trinidad and Tobago in the recent OSN Cup in Saudi Arabia, doubled the lead in the 36th minute as his powerful angled effort took a deflection to embarrass Police custodian Adrian Foncette at his near post.
Bartholomew got the third in the 38th minute as he opened his body to produce a smart left footed finish in the far corner after being sent clear by Toussaint.
Police captain Todd Ryan offered the “Lawmen” a lifeline with a tidy header in the 64th minute off a Akiba Peters free kick. But Bartholomew had the last word in the 85th minute from the penalty spot after referee Larry Lalchan ruled that Police defender Karlon Murray had fouled Point Fortin substitute Sylvester Teesdale.
In the opener at Couva, Defence Force winger Kerry Joseph cut in from the right flank to head an inswinging Kevon Carter cross past Central and “Soca Warriors” custodian Jan-Michael Williams.
Referee Gyasi McDonald could take credit for the first goal of the season as he allowed play to continue after Central wing back Elton John tripped opposing midfielder Samuel Delice, just before Carter’s cross.
The match officials did the fixture justice again in the 27th minute as Defence Force captain and full back Cory Rivers was correctly penalised for handling a John cross. Central captain Jason Marcano coolly converted the resulting penalty kick to bring the Sharks level at 1-1.
But the eventual outcome of the match owed almost as much to McDonald’s generosity in the second half as it did to two brilliant strikes by Central’s teenaged strike force.
In the 53rd minute, Jamal Jack, Central’s pre-season signing from St Ann’s Rangers, went in two-footed on Sean Narcis. Jack got the ball but it was a dangerous tackle and McDonald correctly signalled a foul. The referee could have easily taken firmer action though and Jack had already been booked.
Central made the most of the reprieve in the 67th minute when 19-year-old recruit Dwight Quintero marked his debut with a precise left footed drive into the far corner from 20 yards. It capped a promising outing for the former national under-20 striker who spent the last two seasons in the North East Stars’ reserve team.
Central was again lucky to keep all eleven players on the field in the 75th minute as ex-W Connection defender Akeem Benjamin, who was already cautioned, hauled back Defence Force striker Richard Roy in front of McDonald. Benjamin received a verbal warning rather than a second yellow card.
Five minutes later, Defence Force coach Ross Russell was hopping around in frustration at the touchline as Central defender Keion Goodridge clumsily bundled over Rodell Elcock in the penalty box. McDonald was conspicuous by his silence.
And, in the 81st minute, Rundell Winchester rubbed salt in the army’s wounds with a brilliant insurance item that brought the venue to its feet.
Graham missed a right side Central cross but managed to divert the flight of the ball behind Winchester. Not to be denied, the former Stokely Vale poacher spun around and met the bouncing ball with an overhead kick that flew in off the underside of the bar.
Tomorrow’s Pro League double header at Port of Spain’s Hasely Crawford has a lot to live up to.
(Teams)
Defence Force (4-2-3-1): 1.Kevin Graham (GK); 4.Marvin Jones, 5.Devin Jordan, 20.Rodell Elcock, 14.Cory Rivers (captain); 18.Sean Narcis, 32.Samuel Delice (8.Curtis Gonzales 54); 16.Kerry Joseph (29.Jemel Sebro 71), 17.Ross Russell Jr, 11.Kevon Carter; 9.Richard Roy.
Unused substitutes: 25.Sheldon Clarke (GK), 12.Josimar Belgrave, 81.Adrian Welch, 34.Levi Serries.
Coach: Ross Russell
Central FC (3-5-2): 21.Jan-Michael Williams (GK); 12.Jamal Jack, 24.Akeem Benjamin, 3.Keion Goodridge; 2.Elton John, 7.Jason Marcano (captain), 10.Marvin Oliver (6.Toric Robinson 74), 13.Johan Peltier, 11.Darren Mitchell; 9.Dwight Quintero (22.Keon Trim 87), 17.Rundell Winchester (23.Hector Sam 90).
Unused substitutes: 25.Javon Sample (GK); 4.Omar Charles, 8.Shem Alexander, 15.Kaydion Gabriel.
Coach: Terry Fenwick
Referee: Gyasi McDonald.
PHOTO: - Point Fortin Civic FC's Matthew Bartholomew tries togo past Police FC goalkeeper Adrian Foncette during Friday's TT Pro League action at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva. Civic Centre won the match 4-1.... Author: ALLAN CRANE.