DIRECTV W Connection stretched its lead to 8 points at the top of the Digicel Pro League standings on Saturday by edging bitter town-rivals Central FC 1-0 at the Ato Boldon Stadium on Saturday.
Substitute Stefano Rijssel's 78th minute item separated Connection from Central, in the Couva derby, while defending champs Defence Force made upward movement, jumping from seventh to fourth on the standings with 9 points, following a 3-1 come-from-behind win over Point Fortin Civic at the Mahaica Oval.
Bevon Bass fired Point Fortin ahead in the 29th minute, however the home side failed to defend its advantage, when in the 36th minute Richard Roy leveled the scores, in what was the beginning of a Defence Force comeback.
The soldiers went on to find the back of the net twice in the second half, with a 70th minute item by Devorn Jorsling and Kerry Joseph in the 87th minute, ending a three match league winless streak, while Civic are on a three-match league slide.
As for the leaders W Connection, the Stuart Charles Fevrier coached "Savonnetta Boys" are seamless with maximum 18 points from six matches after the end of Round One Match Day Seven, and an overall record of 11 straight wins in all competitions.
North East Stars, 1-0 winners over San Juan Jabloteh, and Police FC, 2-0 winners over bottom of the table St. Ann's Rangers (3 points), occupies second and third respectively with 10 points each.
Behind them are Defence Force in fourth, ahead of fifth positioned Point Fortin (9 points) only by a better goal difference.
Caledonia, on the bye, and Central, follow in sixth and seventh positions with 8 points each, and Jabloteh in eight with 6 points; a long way behind leaders Connection.
Connection forward Rijssel, returning for the first time following a lengthy layoff due to injury, replaced Colombian midfielder Yefer Lozano at the start of the second period and later broke the deadlock in the 78th minute when he smashed a strike past goalkeeper Jan Michael Williams for the 1-0 score.
Williams, a former Connection stalwart, had little chance after a poor clearance by his defense allowed Rijssel to pick up inside the area after he and his attacking teammates toyed the Central defense.
Rijssel and company added salt to Central's wound, by parking their celebrations in front of coach Terry Fenwick's technical area.
Rijssel's return to the pitch also saw him combine with Hashim Arcia in the 51st minute when the latter guided an effort just high of the crossbar.
The Surinamese footballer later unleashed a strike from 35 yards out in the 61st minute and only missed the far upright by inches.
Central also had a close effort, when in only the sixth minute of play midfielder Jason Marcano's strike from 22 yards out, sizzled just outside the far upright.
And it took until the 64th minute for the "Sharks" next best opening but substitute forward Dwight Quintero tamed an effort into the gloves of Julani Archibald after an attempted strike towards goal by teammate Darren Mitchell rolled into his path.
At the final whistle Connection, who was denied a goal in the 15th minute for offside, after Neil Benjamin Jr. potted the ball off the far upright and into the net following a neat string of pass, celebrated a win over the team that defeated them 3-2 on penalties in the semi-final round of the First Citizens Cup two months ago.
Since then, Central went on to win the First Citizens Cup and Connection the Toyota Classic trophy while maintaining excellent form at the top of the league standings.
Both teams have also reached the semi-final round of the 2013 FA Trophy competition which will be contested on Wednesday 11 December at the Ato Boldon Stadium.
Central will contest Super League outfit Malabar FC from 5pm and from 7:30pm W Connection, defeated just once in all domestic competitions this season, are against North East Stars.
Full Round One Match Day Seven Results
St. Ann’s Rangers 0—2 Police FC
Joel Kevin Lewis 27’, Karlon Murray 35’
San Juan Jabloteh 1—0 North East Stars
Kennedy Hinkson 89’
Point Fortin Civic 1—3 Defence Force
Bevon Bass 29’ ; Richard Roy 36’, Devorn Jorsling 70’, Kerry Joseph 87’
W Connection 1—0 Central FC
Stefano Rijssel 78’
Teams
W Connection—18. Julani Archibald, 3. Gerard Williams (capt.), 2. Kurt Frederick, 5. Mekeil Williams, 19. Leslie Joel Russell, 24. Ananias Jordao Jr. (39. Alvin Jones 46th) (Yellow Card), 7. Silvio Spann, 40. Jomal Williams (6. Celio Da Silva Santos 75th), 14. Hashim Arcia, 27. Yefer Lozano (26. Stefano Rijssel 46th) (Yellow Card), 65. Neil Benjamin Jr.
Unused substitutes—22. Aquelius Sylvester (GK), 25. Christian Viveros, 28. Yhon Stiven Lopez, 29. Mickaeel Jem Gordon
Coach—Stuart Charles Fevrier
Central FC—21. Jan-Michael Williams, 10. Marvin Oliver (capt.), 3. Keion Goodridge, 2. Elton John, 6. Toric Robinson, 7. Jason Marcano, 11. Darren Mitchell (13. Johan Peltier 65th), 12. Jamal Jack, 17. Rundell Winchester (23. Hector Sam 79th), 22. Keon Trim (9. Dwight Quintero 53rd), 24. Akeem Benjamin
Unused substitutes—25. Javon Sample (GK), 4. Omarr Charles, 15. Kaydion Gabriel, 19. Dwight Pope
Coach—Terry Fenwick