Late Noel Williams' goals to complete his beaver-trick rescued San Juan Jabloteh in a 5-4 win against Defence Force on Thursday in their rescheduled Round Three Match Day Three clash of the Big Six at the Larry Gomes Stadium.
Jabloteh were trailing behind by 4 goals to 3 after Defence Force striker Richard Roy completed the first beaver-trick of the match in the 72nd minute with a powerfully struck free kick from 35 yards out to beat goalkeeper Cleon John.
But it was the Jabloteh left wingback rescued the defending League champions in the closing stages and getting a beaver-trick to his name in the process.
Williams who already had two out of Jabloteh’s three items found the back of the net again in the 85th minute rising above the Soldiers’ defence to head past goalkeeper Kevin Graham off a Jason Marcano corner from the left levelling the scores 4-4.
And two minutes from regular time his well timed run met a low cross by second half substitute Lester Peltier to slip a shot through the legs of an advancing Graham and stole a 5-4 win over Defence Force who started brightly.
Jabloteh maintained their winning ways against the Soldiers this season and moved up a spot in the Digicel Pro League championship in third with 42 points, one less than second positioned Caledonia AIA of Morvant/Laventille and two points behind leaders Bmobile Joe Public.
Defence Force who remained sixth on the League table without a win after two matches actually had the opening item in the 12th minute a Richard Roy left the Jabloteh defence stagnant to meet a pass inside the area then turn and volley past Cleon John from the edge of the six yard for a 1-0 advantage.
But Jabloteh levelled the scoreline 1-1 two minutes later from a well taken Noel Williams penalty after Jerrel Britto was adjudged to have been brought down inside the six yard area by defender Rodell Elcock seconds after the soldiers registered the opening item.
In the 16th minute Defence Force goalscorer Roy hooked a low shot towards goal but it was easily gathered by Cleon John.
The soldiers had Jabloteh cornered for huge parts of the first period however the scoreline remained 1-1 at the break.
Midway through their continued attack goalkeeper Kevin Graham was adjudged to have carried the ball out of his area while attempting to dump a ball forward—awarding Jabloteh a freekick at the edge of the area. He redeemed himself blocking out the well struck free kick by Marvin Oliver.
On the other end in the 26th minute Anton Joseph was inches wide of returning his side's one goal advantage blasting a low shot just wide of John's far upright after the entire Jabloteh defence failed to cut off a low Kerry Joseph crossball.
Five minutes from the break Jason Marcano was denied by Graham after the Jabloteh attacker unleashed had a crack on goal from an angle.
And shortly before the halftime whistle Marcano failed to put a volley on target after a break by Williams down the left to swing a cross to find his teammate above the area.
Nine minutes inside the second period the “goal rush” began to flow when Jabloteh stole a 2-1 advantage after Marcano latched onto a long pass inside the area, evaded goalkeeper Graham and slotted the ball past defender Rawle Fletcher's late challenge and into the net.
But that only lasted seconds after referee Neil Brizan pointed to the penalty spot when Kevon Carter went to ground under challenge inside the area attempting to meet a low Jerwyn Balthazar cross.
Roy took the resulting penalty kick and finished it comfortably for a 2-2 advantage in the 56th minute.
Noel then made it 3-2 in favour of Jabloteh in the 61st minute as the see-saw effects ensued.
Roy then levelled the scores 3-3 up netting his third item in the 63rd minute guiding a cross past John as the match went into full steam.
In the 68th minute his goalie, Graham, was rescued twice by the woodwork when Marcano's blast from just inside the area met the upright and the rebound effort by Travis Mulraine struck the crossbar.
Defence Force took the lead again in the 72nd minute for a 4-3 scoreline when Roy smashed a 35 yard freekick past goalkeeper John to complete his beavertrick.
But it was Noel Williams who scored what turned out to be the bigger “beaver” netting in the 85th and 88th minutes to close off a 5-4 Jabloteh victory.
San Juan Jabloteh 5—4 Defence Force
Noel Williams 14' (pen), 61', 85', 88', Jason Marcano 54' ; Richard Roy 12', 56' (pen), 63', 72'
San Juan Jabloteh—Cleon John (capt.), Karlon Murray, Sheldon Bateau, Noel Williams, Anton Hutchinson (Luke Gullick 46th), Elton John, Travis Mulraine, Marvin Oliver (Lester Peltier 74th), Jason Marcano, Ataullah Guerra (Elijah Manners 60th), Jerrel Britto.
Coach—Earl Jean.
Defence Force—Kevin Graham, Corey Rivers (capt.), Rawle Fletcher, Kerry Joseph (Jerwyn Balthazar 46th), Kevon Carter, Anton Joseph, Sean Narcis (Anton Pierre 81st), Dexter Pacheco (Ronald St Louis 68th), Aklie Edwards, Richard Roy, Rodell Elcock.
Coach-Ross Russell.