Ma Pau SC suffered its first defeat of the season while 10-men league leaders Defence Force extending their winning streak to six matches with a 2-1 win over the Woodbrook based club on Friday night at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
Just as predicted, fans were treated to what some described as the best match of the season between the 2010 Digicel Pro League leaders Defence Force and second positioned Ma Pau—both unbeaten prior to the second clash of the Round One Match Day Seven Super Friday.
And although Ma Pau started fiercely, the Soldiers proved why they are the current leaders with yet another scintillating performance and got the desired result thanks to an opening item by Kevon Carter in the 37th minute and the winning item by Devon Jorsling in the 59th minute.
Defence Force, now with 18 points, opened a six-point gap from second positioned Ma Pau, while North East Stars sit third with 10 points.
Ma Pau had leveled the scores 1-1 in the 52nd minute when Anthony Wolfe guided Lester Peltier's low cross past Graham—a somewhat identical goal to that of Army opening item.
Peltier had two opening opportunities, first in the 20th minute spilling wide and again in the 36th when Trevin Caesar showed some brilliant pace down the left to find Peltier who wasted time with the goal and Graham at his mercy before being closed down by the defence.
Carter struck the opening goal with a simple finish when he guided a low cross by Kerry Joseph past goalkeeper Alejandro Figueroa in the 37th for the one goal advantage which held up until the half. However the celebration wasn’t simple, kneeling to allow teammate Jorsling to knight him with the corner flag.
But the Soldiers went a man short when captain Corey Rivers picked up a direct red card for slapping Kerry Noray in the face seconds before the break after he was elbowed by the Ma Pau player. Referee Neil Brizan who was in clear view reacted early to dip into his pocket and eject the soldier.
But a man down, Defence Force clearly proved that they are the force of 2010 running everything at Ma Pau and got the winning in the 59th minute when Devon Jorsling smashed in a low freekick through a packed wall to beat Figueroa after he won the set piece off a foul by defender Seon Power for the 2-1 score.
Defence Force not only had their game plan, but surely practiced their goal celebrations when Jorsling made his run to the sideline, outfitted himself with Coach Ross Russell’s jacket while other players sat around him as he enacted giving stern instructions.
Unfortunately Jorsling picked up a yellow card for the stylish celebration—with referee Brizan deeming it time wasting.
Ma Pau also had their second half openings but just couldn’t find the target a second time.
In the 64th minute Wolfe guided a header just wide from an unmarked position to meet Caesar’s cross.
Things then got worse for Ma Pau when head coach Micahel McComie was directed off the bench by referee Brizan.
He watched on from the stands as Figueroa was forced to pull off a magnificent save, parrying Jerwyn Balthazar's shot from a Jorsling square pass.
Defence Force had another goalscoring opportunity in the 90th minute but substitute Richard Roy was just over from above the area after receiving a pass from Jorsling.
And in injury time, Ma Pau was unlucky when Peltier was denied by the upright with a neat volley from inside the area before the final whistle sent the soldiers into celebration.
Caledonia, Stars fire blanks.
Caledonia AIA of Morvant/Laventille settled for a goalless draw against visiting DIRECTV North East Stars in the first match of this weekend’s Super Friday double header at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Round One Match Day Seven.
But it was an improvement for Coach Jamaal Shabazz’s side coming off two defeats while it was a decline for the Grande Boys coming off an impressive 2-1 victory over W Connection last Saturday.
Stars remained third on the 2010 Digicel Pro League now with 10 points, two behind Ma Pau and eight points from leaders Defence Force.
Defence Force stretched their lead following a 2-1 win over Ma Pau SC in the second clash of the double header in front of a huge crowd at the Port of Spain venue.
But in the goalless first clash, ninth positioned Caledonia now with 5 points, had some clear chances in the opening half which they dominated, however weren’t sharp in front of goal.
Early into the clash of the community backed clubs, former Caledonia goalie Michael Woods pulled off a save on Daneil Cyrus in what should have been a better strike by the attacking defender.
And moments later Kareem Joseph fired a low shot just wide after a brilliant buildup on the right followed by a tame attempt on goal by Ryan Stewart guiding Walter Moore’s cross into the arms of Woods.
Stars midfielder Akeil Guevara had a crack on goal from distance in the 39th minute but that too didn’t pose much threat as goalkeeper Kevin Graham made a simple low gather.
Graham was again in action four minutes from the half dealing off a shot from Stars’ forward Errol McFarlane.
And in the final minute of the half, Ryan Stewart forced a save out of goalkeeper Woods on the other end with a low shot which was put out for a corner sending both sides goalless at the break.
North East Stars forward Errol McFarlane had a good look at goal in the 69th minute after a through ball from the right sneaked past the Caledonia defence but he pulled his effort well wide as breaking the deadlock seemed impossible.
Both sides struggled to get it right in the second period running eachother at lengths in the second period.
But it was Caledonia that wasted an open goal opportunity in the 89th minute when substitute Akim Armstrong guided a cross wide of an open net.
Armstrong was not only to blame, because it was midfielder Densill Theobald who should have taken the shot after defeating his marker and goalkeeper Woods to have a look at the open net, but instead he played across the face of goal, only to see his teammate guide the effort wide ending the match goalless.
Caledonia AIA v North East Stars
Caledonia AIA—Kevin Graham, Stephan David (capt), Ryan Stewart, Abdallah Phillips (Akim Armstrong 68th), Kareem Joseph, Shawn Beveney (Hayden Vincent 68th), Walter Moore, Kerry Daniel (Yellow) (Travis Mulraine 90th), Daneil Cyrus, Densill Theobald, Ishmael Daniel.
Coach—Jamaal Shabazz.
North East Stars—Michael Woods, Charles Pollard (capt), Kimarley McDonnald, Leslie Fitzpatrick (Randolph Jerome 88th), Marc Leslie, Akiel Guevara (Sean Frazer 63rd), Gary Glasgow (Jason Devenish 77th), Carey Harris, Glenton Wolfe, Errol McFarlane, Milton Correa Gomez (Yellow).
Coach—Rod Underwood.
Defence Force v Ma Pau SC
Defence Force—Kevin Graham, Corey Rivers (capt) (Red), Aklie Edwards (Yellow), Devin Jordan (Yellow), Michael Edwards, Devon Jorsling (Yellow), Jerry Joseph (Richard Roy 60th) (Yellow), Kevon Carter, Jerwyn Balthazar (Rawle Fletcher 80th), Dexter Pacheco, Rondell Elcock.
Coach—Ross Russell.
Ma Pau SC—Alejandro Figueroa, Lyndon Andrews (capt) (Yellow), Mikeil Williams (Kevin Molino 68th), Elton John (Yellow), Trevin Caesar (Shandel Samuel 64th), Kerry Noray (Curtis Gonzales 80th), Rennie Britto, Seon Power, Keyeno Thomas, Lester Peltier, Anthony Wolfe.
Coach—Michael McComie.