St Ann's Rangers spectacularly clicked back into gear on Tuesday night with a 3-0 triumph over Pro League leaders and defending champions, Clico San Juan Jabloteh, at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar.
Today's round of Pro League matches are crucial, particularly in Malabar where Rangers play Neal & Massy Caledonia AIA from 5 pm while Petrotrin tackle Economy North East Stars at 7 pm.
A Rangers victory coupled with a draw or defeat from Petrotrin would guarantee the former team's participation in the post-season competition. While a loss for Bmobile Joe Public, Caledonia or North East Stars would ensure closing day drama on the weekend. The frontrunners, Jabloteh and W. Connection, are in their own race and have daylight space from the pack.
Jabloteh have led the Pro League since June 24 but Tuesday's loss saw Connection pull within three points and the southern outfit have a game in hand against Public. Jabloteh coach Terry Fenwick was almost certainly blindsided in Malabar.
Rangers lost their four last outings before Tuesday while they conceded 12 goals in their last two matches against W. Connection and Joe Public respectively. Seventeen weeks had passed before coach Anthony Streete's men had kept a clean sheet-they managed a 2-0 shut-out against Tobago United on the same ground in July.
But they were back to their best on Tuesday with a exciting display of counter-attacking football.
Jabloteh's central defender Karlon Murray was on national duty with the "Soca Warriors" for the past week although he did not feature in the Digicel Caribbean Cup qualifying series. Still, Fenwick opted to leave the defender on the bench and gave youngster Anton Hutchinson a rare start at right back while experienced full back Cyd Gray assumed Murray's central defensive role.
In midfield, Jabloteh captain Trent Noel was paired with the offensive minded pair of Marvin Oliver and Ataullah Guerra rather than the more conservative Devon Jamerson or physical Elijah Manners.
It is difficult to gauge how much Jabloteh's performance was affected by the tactical tweaking. What we do know is that Rangers did not mind one bit.
Just eight minutes into the contest, Rangers attacker Christon Thomas gained space down Jabloteh's right flank and crossed for Grenadian international Shane Rennie to convert and the St Ann's unit never looked back.
Guerra was sleepwalking while Oliver and wingers Jason Marcano and Lester Peltier never got close enough to support lone striker Jerol Forbes. And, on every occasion that Jabloteh conceded possession, Rangers headed straight to goal.
Rangers goalkeeper Shane Mattis executed a smart save at Forbes' feet in the first half but, that apart, the action was usually limited to the Jabloteh area. Rennie and Corneal Thomas both hit the upright while goals from Shem McFarlane and a clever Christon finish put Rangers three goals clear with 34 minutes to spare.
It was a welcomed reprieve for Connection who could only draw 1-1 against Petrotrin on Tuesday. Solitary points mean little for either Rangers or Petrotrin from here on. It should make for intriguing viewing at the Larry Gomes Stadium.