Defending T&T Pro League champions, CLICO San Juan Jabloteh, opened up a seven-point gap from second placed United Petrotrin on the weekend with a 1-0 win over Economy North East Stars at the Larry Gomes Stadium in Malabar.
Victory over Neal & Massy Caledonia AIA tomorrow could make them even more out of touch with their domestic rivals. The self-proclaimed "San Juan Kings" dropped just four points from their opening ten league fixtures this season and are the only unbeaten 2008 Pro League team.
Perhaps Jabloteh deserved their three-point haul on Saturday evening too as they were marginally the better team in Malabar. But spare a thought for their Sangre Grande-based opponents who pushed them all the way.
The Stars were sixth before kick off and slipped one place to seventh spot in the ten-team table after their late defeat. The result did not go the way of the underdogs. Yet, proof of the growing competitiveness of the competition was unmistakeable. Five minutes before Jabloteh's decisive goal, which was scored by pre-season recruit and 2007 Pro League MVP Marvin Oliver, Stars almost snatched an unlikely winner themselves.
Holding midfielder Marc Leslie caught the Jabloteh defence in disarray as he played a straight, lofted pass towards the edge of the opposing penalty area. Stars' midfielder Akeil Guevara and the Jabloteh pair of goalkeeper Cleon John and defender Karlon Murray chased and, when the dust settled, Jabloteh coach Terry Fenwick was relieved to see substitute defender Sheldon Bateau hook the ball clear of his own goal.
Stars owner Darryl Mahabir baulked at the perceived negativity of his former employee, Ken Elie, who started the season as head coach. Elie appeared to be doing a sensible job with limited resources but his replacement, Clint Marcelle, has been a breath of fresh air as he added confidence and a cutting edge-not to mention, mobility-to Elie's dogged, industrious side.
Rather than accept their supposed shortcomings, Stars fought gamely and might have opened the scoring through Colombian striker Milton Espitia but for a fine John reflex save. Espitia got an even better chance, ten minutes after the interval, but hurried his shot after a perceptive pass from teammate Sean Cooper offered a clear sight of goal.
Guevara panicked the Jabloteh defence too, five minutes from time, as he chased a Leslie pass into the area. Yet, Marcelle's men were hardly having it their own way.
Jabloteh's attacking pair of Antiguans Peter Byers and Gayson Gregory looked in the mood and converted Stars' sweeper Kevin Jeffreys, for once, seemed overwhelmed by their movement and power.
Byers just missed the far post in the tenth minute after a Gregory pass and should have hit the target with a header, early in the second half, following a good right side cross from Lester Peltier. Twice, Gregory had Stars goalkeeper Tristan Charles sprinting off his line to produce decisive saves.
But the rest of the Jabloteh production line was not as sharp on the day. Playmaker Ataullah Guerra was kept in check by Stars captain and 2006 World Cup squad member Anthony Wolfe, while Fenwick's squad got little joy from the flanks-Gregory apart.
The English coach replaced workmanlike midfielder Devon Jamerson with the more attack-minded Oliver in the 65th minute but the former Caledonia AIA star did not quite assert his authority on the game.
A clutch of crucial late goals for Caledonia last season earned Oliver the nickname "90th minute". Any hope that Oliver's languid, clever style might soften Jabloteh's quick, aggressive approach to the game have been unfounded thus far.
But the lanky, dreadlocked number ten can still keep his composure at the death. Byers' header from a Trent Noel corner, in the closing seconds, fell into Oliver's path and he lashed home the winner at the near post.
Stars' players slumped to the ground while Jabloteh celebrated as though they had won the league. Of course, they are on course to do just that. But, on Saturday's evidence, it would not be as straightforward as the league table might suggest.
Yesterday's T&T Pro League Results:
W Connection 5 (Andre Toussaint (2), Oscar Torijano, Hughtun Hector, Atiba McKnight) v Ma Pau SC 0
United Petrotrin 1 (Howard Lowe 49 own-goal) v Caledonia AIA 0
San Juan Jabloteh 1 (Marvin Oliver 90) v North East Stars 0
St Ann's Rangers 4 (Keon Edwards 20, Josimar Belgrave 70, Shem Mc Farlane 82, Ricky Charles 88) v Defence Force 1 (Christopher Durity 59)
Joe Public 3 (Kerry Baptiste (2), Wolry Wolfe) v Tobago United 0