ATO BOLDON STADIUM, Couva - Digicel Pro League leaders DIRECTV W Connection rebounded from last Friday's disappointing 3-0 defeat to Central, by hammering San Juan Jabloteh 4-0 on Tuesday night.
A double by midfielder Joevin Jones, and a goal each by forwards Jerrel Britto and substitute Dimitrie Apai, all in the second half, and supported by Jabloteh's negligence in preparing for the worse, did the trick for coach Stuart Charles Fevrier.
Jabloteh's gamble to roster one goalkeeper – a regular move by coach Keith Jeffrey this season – fell flat on Tuesday night after goalkeeper Shane Mattis was forced to play with an injured left arm for more than eighty minutes.
And in the earlier match of the Round Three Match Day Three double header, top-two hopeful, Point Fortin Civic, bounced back from Sunday's 1-0 loss to Defence Force, by registering a 2-1 came from behind win over cellar positioned St. Ann's Rangers.
The win pushed Civic up a spot into third, joining second positioned Central and fourth positioned North East Stars with 32 points each. While Connection, with a seven-point lead, are ahead of the pack with 30 points.
Both Connection and Civic will return to action in Round Two Match Day Four on Friday at the very same Ato Boldon Stadium, with the “Savonnetta Boys” against the Stars from 6 pm, and the Point Fortin outfit against Central from 8 pm.
On Saturday the round will continue at the Larry Gomes Stadium from 4 pm when Police FC hosts Jabloteh – who will definitely hope for a fit Mattis.
The Jamaican goalie injured his arm just three minutes into the match during a raid on goal by Connection, and after ten minutes of tending to, Mattis was forced to return to play but without a fully functioning left arm.
Mattis, who charged down a strike by Kurt Frederick at the near post 20 minutes into the match, went to ground again in the 35th minute, but briefly, grimacing in pain after making a low stop and gather from Mekeil Williams’s strike from distance.
And two minutes the Jabloteh goalkeeper was rescued by defender Kareem Smith, who cleared a Joevin Jones effort after Mattis was left stranded outside his six yard area in a half that saw the San Juan club produce a fine defensive performance.
Jeffrey’s side had a few looks at goal with Smith being denied by goalkeeper Julani Archibald’s one-handed save putting over the defender’s header off a Jean-Luc Rochford free-kick in the 42nd minute.
Rochford was ambitious in the 22nd minute but his effort from distance failed to trouble Archibald, but three minutes from time and 35-yards out, the midfielder’s powerful crack crashed off the cross-bar, failing to pick up a consolation item at that point.
Ace forward and captain, Kerry Baptiste, had two looks on goal also, but lacked power on both occasions in the 45th and 57th minute, and three minutes later teammate Bradley Welch was blanked at close-range.
Connection however, broke away from the San Juan club early into the second period, scoring twice in a space of four minutes.
Britto headed Connection in front, 1-0, from close-up after Mattis blocked his initial effort into his path in the 47th minute after racing into the area.
And another lapse in defence in the 50th minute saw Neil Benjamin’s low ball across the six yard area, slip past everyone for the arriving Joevin Jones to hit into the back of the net for a 2-0 cushion.
Joevin’s younger brother and Connection right-back was involved in the 64th minute with a dangerous cross into the Jabloteh area, when an audacious volley by striker Hashim Arcia was just wide of the target.
Arcia got involved again in the 66th minute following a neat exchange of passes between himself and Joevin Jones, teeing-up the latter with a neat back-heel to hammer a low left-footed strike perfectly into Mattis' far corner for a 3-0 score.
And in the 81st minute Suriname striker Apai, who spilled over-bar five minutes earlier, completed the 4-0 rout after racing past defender Smith and blasting past a hapless Mattis.
Mattis’ former employers, St. Ann’s Rangers, had an excellent start in the earlier match, despite being lucky when six minutes into the contest, Civic’s Marcus Joseph lifted Andre Alexis’ cross over-bar from the six-yard area.
Civic were stunned by the 10th minute when Ghananian forward Michael Yaw Darko headed a Keron Cornwall cross over goalkeeper Marvin Phillip and into the back of the net for a 1-0 lead.
But Rangers surrendered the advantage by the 21st minute when Andre Toussaint converted from the penalty spot with a cool strike past goalkeeper Terrence Lewis for a 1-1 score.
Referee Dave Daniel awarded the kick following a sliding challenge by Kevin Carter on Civic's Akeem Redhead a minute earlier to the disbelief of the St. Ann’s club.
Lewis was later forced to acrobatically push behind a crack at goal by Kelvin Modeste in the 37th minute.
But by the 50th minute, Civic were leading 2-1 when an overhead kick by striker Andre Alexis sent the ball over Lewis and into the back of the net.
Alexis was close to another item, moments later, but credit to defender Isaiah Mc Intyre, who forced the Civic forward to direct Marcus Joseph's cross wide of goal.
Civic defender Kevin Rouse, who was involved in Alexis’ goal, tried his luck from distance in the 75th minute and was just too high of the target.
Rangers meanwhile, had two late tries when in the 78th minute Sedale Mc Lean’s low left-footed strike directed towards the far corner was kept out by goalkeeper Phillip, and just before the end, defender and captain Jelani Peters hammered a free-kick a couple metres wide after substitute Josh Toussaint was brought down at the edge of the area.
Digicel Pro League 2013/2014 Round Three Match Day Three
St. Ann’s Rangers 1—2 Point Fortin Civic
Michael Yaw Darko 10' ; Andre Toussaint 21' (PEN), Andre Alexis 50'
W Connection 4—0 San Juan Jabloteh
Jerrel Britto 47', Joevin Jones 50', 66', Dimitrie Apai 81'
Teams
Point Fortin Civic—1. Marvin Phillip, 4. Weslie John (C), 17. Glen Sutton, 2. Garyl Doldron, 29. Kevin Rouse, 18. Akeem Redhead, 6. Kelvin Modeste, 11. Andre Toussaint (33. Jamille Boatswain 64th), 10. Marcus Joseph, 99. Rondel Phillip (31. Kendell Davis 46th), 21. Andre Alexis
Unused substitutes—26. Miguel Payne (GK), 27. Jarred Bennett, 15. Sean Cooper, 17. Kestwin Goolie, 23. Kelvin Hernandez
Coach—Reynold Carrington
St. Ann’s Rangers—25. Terrence Lewis (Yellow Card), 4. Jelani Peters (C),10. Kenedy Isles, 14. Michael Yaw Darko (26. Josh Toussaint 82nd), 50. Kyle LaBorde, 33. Isaiah McIntyre, 51. Keron Cornwall, 39. Shaquille Moses, 44. Sedale McLean (16. Keron Alexander 80th), 49. Chad Clinton, 41. Kevin Carter
Unused substitutes—18. Jemel Berot, 5. Keon Peters, 31. Jameel Antoine, 21. Jair Edwards, 22. Christopher Biggette (GK)
Coach—Gilbert Bateau
Teams
W Connection—18. Julani Archibald (Yellow Card), 3. Gerard Williams (C), 4. Daneil Cyrus, 2. Kurt Frederick (Yellow Card), 10. Joevin Jones, 12. Jerrel Britto (20. Stefano Rijssel 67th), 11. Tremain Shayn Paul (Yellow Card), 14. Hashim Arcia,15. Mekeil Williams, 39. Alvin Jones, 65. Neil Benjamin Jr. (32. Dimitrie Apai 65th)
Unused substitutes—5. Jamil Joseph, 22. Aquelius Sylvester (GK), 25. Christian Viveros, 13. Devaughn Elliot, 40. Jomal Williams
Coach—Stuart Charles Fevrier
San Juan Jabloteh—30. Shane Mattis, 10. Kerry Baptiste (C) (9. Jelani Felix 77th), 24. Kareem Smith, 4. Jean-Luc Rochford, 16. Nyron Jones, 2. Duran Dilworth, 15. Micah Lewis, 20. Dwane James (13. Savion Kirton 57th), 8. Bradley Welch, 14. Shaquille Bertrand (23. Marcus Gomez 57th), 12. Jamal Spencer
Unused substitutes—19. Dillon Kirton, 25. Alfie James, 17. Kerry Daniel, 7. Rennie Britto
Coach—Keith Jeffrey