Jesse Downing, Amrit Gildharry and substitute Kerron Mitchell each scored their first goal of the season on Tuesday night as Club Sando defeated Morvant Caledonia United 3-0 for their first Digicel Pro League win of the season after eight attempts.
However Sando, the former Super League champions and debutants in the Pro League this season, remained bottom of the 10-team 2015-16 standings due to a much lesser goal-difference although moving level on 4 points with ninth place Caledonia.
Downing unleased a 25-yard laser on the 37th minute to give Sando a much deserved 1-0 lead, following earlier near misses by forwards Kevon Woodley and Devon Modeste and a save by Caledonia reserve goalkeeper Deandre Villaroel to deny Woodley.
The 19-year-old Villaroel, starting in absence of Marvin Phillip who is with the Trinidad and Tobago national team preparing for Friday’s Copa America Centenario play-in with Haiti in Panama, had little chance at the Downing effort.
Downing, occupying a wide attacking role, unleashed the strike with precision and sting to fit the ball into the bottom corner following a desperate clearance by the Caledonia defence.
Having ended the first half on top, Sando remained on the front foot and doubled the advantage by the 53rd minute.
Defender Gildharry blasted into the roof of Villaroel’s net from inside the box for the 2-0 cushion after the Caledonia ‘keeper had charged down a Woodley attempt from a left side corner swung in by Modeste.
Caledonia, on a rare opening past the Sando defence, had a chance to slice the home side’s lead just over the hour mark. But Caledonia captain Kareem Joseph’s crack from the right side cannoned off the far upright and stayed in play before it was carried out to safety by Sando.
Earlier Caledonia coach Jerry Moe threw in creative midfielders Pernell Schultz and Akim Armstrong in support of midfielder Densill Theobald and talented forward Sheldon Holder.
But, other than Joseph’s attempt off the upright and Holder troubling the side netting a minute before the break, the visitors failed make it a miserable night for goalkeeper Kelvin Henry.
Henry’s clean sheet in the end wasn’t possible without the solid defensive work by midfielder Jared London and defenders Corneal Thomas, Kemuel Rivers and captain Kern Cupid before he was stretchered off with 12 minutes left in regular time due to a suspected leg strain.
However Cupid’s replacement, Kerron Mitchell, sealed the 3-0 win in the third and final minute of stoppage-time for the Anthony Streete coached- Club Sando.
Mitchell slid in near the goalmouth to put a right side Akeem Humphrey cross beyond a hapless Villaroel.
Eleven minutes earlier Villaroel was lucky not to concede after Sando substitute Shaquille Holder was brought down at the edge of the box by defender Otev Lawrence. Sando’s Corneal Thomas, from a set-piece, curling the free-kick inches wide of the far top corner.
Earlier this week, Sando’s technical director Muhammad Isa said he wants his players show more appetite and Tuesday’s 3-0 win should surely suffice in their first game since this Christmas break.
The bigger test, though, will come on Saturday against W Connection from 7 pm at the Ato Boldon Stadium in the final game of Round One.
Meanwhile Caledonia, now on a three-game losing streak since edging North East Stars 2-1 on December 12 in a league contest, will return to action on Friday against DPL leaders Defence Force from 6 pm at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
Defence Force, with 17 points, are two points and a healthier goal-difference ahead of second position Police (15 points), with the race to the Rawle Fletcher Round One Trophy to be decided this weekend.
Defending DPL and Rawle Fletcher Trophy winners, Central FC, are third with 14 points.
Rescheduled Round One Match Day Five Results
Club Sando 3 (Jessie Downing 37’, Amrit Gildharry 53’, Kerron Mitchell 90’+3) vs Morvant Caledonia United 0
Teams
Club Sando: 34.Kelvin Henry; 6.Kemuel Rivers, 7.Akeem Humphrey, 9.Jesse Downing, 13.Kern Cupid (Capt.) (26.Shaquille Holder 68th), 15.Amrit Gildharry, 16.Kevon Woodley (21.Kerron Mitchell 78th), 17.Jared London, 19.Ryan Frederick (8.Jeromie Williams 67th), 22.Corneal Thomas, 24.Devon Modeste
Unused substitutes: 10.Kevon Neaves, 12.Jack Weedon, 18.Shane Hospidales, 33.Alexei Julien (GK)
Coach: Anthony Streete
Morvant Caledonia United: 33.Deandre Villaroel; 4.Ordell Flemming, 10.Sheldon Holder, 11.Abdallah Phillips, 12.Kareem Joseph, 13.Kyle Bartholomew (28.Pernell Schultz 58th), 15.Otev Lawrence (Yellow Card), 16.Antonio Joseph (8.Anthony Charles 78th), 21.Densill Theobald, 22.Jameel Neptune, 23.Shaquille Edwards (17.Akim Armstrong 58th)
Unused substitutes: 3.Ronaldo Bailey, 24.Gregory President, 25.Chase Sealey, 26.Triffon Browne
Coach: Jerry Moe
Match Referee: Dennis Changiah
Upcoming Fixtures
Friday 8 January 2016
Defence Force vs Morvant Caledonia United—6 pm, Hasely Crawford Stadium
San Juan Jabloteh vs North East Stars—8 pm, Hasely Crawford Stadium
Saturday 9 January 2016
Police FC vs Point Fortin Civic—3:30 pm, Larry Gomes Stadium
Central FC vs St. Ann's Rangers—5 pm, Ato Boldon Stadium
Club Sando vs W Connection—7 pm, Ato Boldon Stadium