League leaders Defence Force extended their winning run to seven matches on Friday night but had to work their socks off for a 4-3 victory visiting DIRECTV North East Stars.
The fifth positioned Stars proved a very stubborn opponent for the Ross Russell coached side with a see-saw score effect throughout the match before attacker Kevon Carter flicked in the winning item for the Soldiers in the final minute of regulation time.
Carter’s winning item came following goals by teammates Aklie Edwards (15th minute) and Richard Roy (49th and 80th minutes) and Stars goalscorers Sean Frazer (18th), Errol McFarlane (57th minutes) and Akeil Guevara (66th minute).
Defence Force went ahead in the 15th minute after match referee Neil Brizan adjudged Charles Pollard to have fouled Carter inside the area.
Wingback Aklie Edwards stepped up to the challenge and snapped in the rebound for the 1-0 advantage after goalkeeper Michael Woods made a brilliant save from the initial penalty kick.
But three minutes later Stars responded with some brilliant touches with a sequence of passes between Sean Frazer, Errol McFarlane, Akeil Guevara and back to Frazer who guided the ball past goalkeeper Kevin Graham leveling the scores 1-1.
End to end action continued with Carter firing wide in the 38th minute after receiving a brilliant ball over the top by Jerwyn Balthazar and on the other end in the 42nd minute a set piece blast from 35 yards out by Milton Gomez was brilliantly punched out by Graham.
Defence Force then took the advantage again four minutes after the restart with a 2-1 score when Balthazar heeled a pass between two players to find Kerry Joseph who whipped in a low cross which was guided past Woods by Richard Roy.
But the scores where level again 2-2 in the 57th minute when Errol McFarlane scored after guiding in another Guevara cross after Milton Gomez picked up a loose ball in the middle of the field to initiate the play.
Stars then took the lead for the first time in the 66th minute when Guevara slammed a powerful left footed strike from the right to bury the ball into Graham’s far netting for a 3-2 score.
Defence Force fought back creating a few chances with two being converted and winning themselves maximum points after seven outings to stand at the top of the 2010 Digicel Pro League championship with 21 points.
Roy leveled the scores 3-3 wrapping up his double when he headed powerfully past Woods from Aklie Edwards cross ten minutes from time and in the 90th minute it was all over for the Stars when Carter flicked substitute Dexter Thornhill’s cross into the net for the 4-3 victory.
In the earlier clash of the Super Friday double header W Connection moved into second with 14 points with a 2-0 win over St. Ann’s Rangers.
Action continues on Saturday with a double header at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium beginning at 5pm eleventh positioned Police FC against tenth positioned Caledonia and from 7pm ninth positioned FC SouthEnd against third positioned Ma Pau SC.
And at the Plymouth Recreation Ground home side Tobago United will look to extend their winning streak to three matches when they challenge sixth positioned San Juan Jabloteh from 5pm.
Defence Force 4—3 North East Stars
Aklie Edwards 15’, Richard Roy 49, 80’, Kevon Carter 90’ ; Sean Frazer 18’, Errol McFarlane 57’, Akeil Guevara 66’
Teams
Defence Force—Kevin Graham, Michael Edwards (capt.) (Owen Matthews 76th), Aklie Edwards, Devin Jordan (Keston Williams 44th), Kerry Joseph (Dexter Thornhill 87th), Richard Roy, Kevon Carter (Yellow), Jerwyn Balthazar, Sean Narcis (Yellow), Dexter Pacheco, Rondell Elcock.
Coach—Ross Russell.
North East Stars—Michael Woods, Charles Pollard (capt) (Yellow), Marc Leslie (Yellow), Gary Glasgow, Errol McFarlane, Milton Gomez, Glenton Wolfe, Carey Harris (Carlos Gonzales 63rd), Sean Frazer (Arnold Dwarika 79th), Akeil Guevara (Kaydion Gabriel 88th), Kimarley McDonald.
Coach—Rod Underwood.
Connection second following 2-0 win over Rangers.
W Connection moved a spot up the 2010 Digicel Pro League standings with a 2-0 win over eight positioned St. Ann’s Rangers on Friday night at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
First half goals by defender Eder Gilmar Arias and teenaged forward Shahdon Winchester was enough for the Stuart Charles Fevrier coached side as they jumped from third into second with 14 points.
Arias volleyed in the opening item in the 12th minute from Hector’s left side corner after goalkeeper Daurance Williams had initially tipped Hector’s shot behind awarding Connection the corner which led to the 1-0 advantage.
Five minutes later Connection goalie Jan Michael Williams was tested by Rangers’ Colombian import Julian Martinuez Sanchez who forced a tip behind from a 20 yard free kick.
However Connection doubled their advantage 2-0 by the 33rd minute when Winchester controlled Hector’s pass between two defenders and fired low past Daurance Williams.
After assisting both goals, Hector had a go at goal himself from just inside the area in the 37th minute but was denied by the gloves of Daurance Williams and the rebound effort by Matthew Bartholomew was wide.
Less than a minute later Bartholomew had a decent opening however he fired directly at the Rangers goalie both on the initial effort and the follow-up.
Rangers had a few second half opportunities that were squandered with Kwame Wiltshire hitting into a block, followed by a freekick onto the crossbar moments later. And in the 54th minute Josimar Belgrave was denied by Jan Michael Williams from the penalty spot as the St. Ann’s based club struggled to rebound from the two-goal deficit.
W Connection also failed from the penalty spot after Joseph Peters brought Bartholomew down inside the area in the 70th minute.
Bartholomew took the penalty and his direct shot was blocked out by Daurance Williams however referee Rashby McPhie ordered a retake. But on his second attempt the W Connection forward fired wide of the upright to the dismay of his teammates.
Connection then went on to end the match with 10-men when nine minutes from regular time Kern Cupid was awarded a direct red card by referee McPhie.
However Connection applauded their 2-0 victory in the end while Rangers remained in disappointment coming off a 3-0 defeat against Tobago United in their previous outing.
Connection may be second, however they are seven points shy of leaders Defence Force (21 points) after the Soldiers registered a hardfought 4-3 victory over DIRECTV North East Stars in the second clash of the Round One Match Day Eight Super Friday at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
Action continues on Saturday with a double header at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium beginning at 5pm eleventh positioned Police FC against tenth positioned Caledonia and from 7pm ninth positioned FC SouthEnd against third positioned Ma Pau SC. And at the Plymouth Recreation Ground home side Tobago United will look to extend their winning streak to three matches when they challenge sixth positioned San Juan Jabloteh from 5pm.
St. Ann’s Rangers 0—2 W Connection
Eder Gilmar Aras 12’, Shahdon Winchester 33’
Teams
St. Ann’s Ranges—Daurance Williams, Devon Modeste (capt), Elijah Belgrave (Yellow), Julian Martinez Sanchez, Javon Wilson, Beville Joseph, Kwame Wiltshire (Kaashif Thomas 69th), Josimar Belgrave, Nichcolas Valentine, Joseph Peters (Yellow), Adrian Narine (Odelle Armstrong 60th).
Coach—Anthony Streete.
W Connection—Jan-Michael Williams, Elijah Joseph (capt), Eder Gilmar Aras, Nickcolson Thomas, Kern Cupid (Red), Clyde Leon (Christian Viveros 76th), Romauld Aguillera, Hughtun Hector, Andrei Pacheco, Matthew Bartholomew (Teba McKnight 73rd), Shahdon Winchester (Keryn Navarro 86th).
Coach—Stuart Charles Fevrier.
Army shoot down Stars 4-3 in pulsating match.
By Joel Bailey (T&T Newsday).
Richard Roy netted a double as Defence Force marched on towards their quest for the Digicel Pro League crown with a pulsating 4-3 victory over North East Stars in their Round One Match Day Eight meeting at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo on Friday night.
The game was the second in the ‘Super Friday’ double-header and Defence Force’s resilience, in the face of a combative North East Stars outfit, shone through as they registered their seventh straight win and maintained a 100-percent record.
W Connection, who were in winners’ row in the earlier encounter, is seven points adrift of the runaway leaders, while Ma Pau is in third place with 12 points.
Defence Force were without ace striker Devon Jorsling and captain, and influential right-back Corey Rivers, due to suspension, but they were presented with a penalty kick after 14 minutes.
Veteran Guyanese and North East skipper Charles Pollard was late on his tackle on the goal-bound Roy and referee Lee Davis pointed to the spot. Aklie Edwards’ initial left-footer was parried by goalkeeper Michael Woods but the defender reacted to the loose ball to slam it home.
North East Stars, who have flattered to deceive this season, hit back in the 17th minute courtesy of a wonderful move — Jamaican Sean Fraser’s pass to his co-striker Errol McFarlane was directed to Akiel Guevara on the left and, with acres of space, the ball fell to Fraser who drilled his right-footer beyond the reach of goalie Kevin Graham.
Both teams had their chances to get the go-ahead goal, with Kevon Carter (37th) and Kerry Joseph (45th) for Defence Force, and Colombian Milton Gomez (41st) coming close.
However, Roy restored Defence Force’s lead four minutes into the second half, volleying his right-footer into the open net after Joseph, on the right by-line, was wonderfully set up by fellow midfielder Jerwyn Balthazar.
But McFarlane joined Jorsling atop the goal-scoring chart with seven goals with an equaliser, in the 56th. A poor clearance at the back by Rondell Elcock was intercepted by Guevara who played in McFarlane and the evergreen striker tapped home from close range.
In the 65th, Guevara produced one of the season’s best goals to date, a thunderous diagonal left-footer which went to the top right-hand corner of Graham’s net after he left Edwards and Dexter Pacheco for dead on the right flank.
Defence Force, facing their first deficit for the entire season, responded by bringing on mid-fielders Owen Matthews and Dexter Thornhill, in a more attacking formation, to preserve their unbeaten run.
Roy missed a golden chance to tie the scores in the 69th minute but atoned 10 minutes later, rising above defender Kimarley McDonald of Jamaica to head Edwards’ fantastic left-sided cross past the stranded Woods.
North East Stars midfielder Gary Glasgow failed to finish after a neat lay-off by McFarlane while Roy was unable to complete a wonderful counter-attacking move by Carter.
But Carter had the final say in an intriguing encounter, in the 89th minute, as Roy’s shot was blocked by the defence, Thornhill tracked down the loose ball and crossed from the right for Carter to back-heel his effort to the right of Woods.
W Connection moved to second spot after a comfortable 2-0 victory over St Ann’s Rangers, in the opening game at Mucurapo.
Colombian defender Eder Gilmar Aras placed a shot beyond the reach of goalkeeper Daurance Williams in the 11th minute while national youth team striker Shahdon Winchester doubled the scores in the 32nd, with a turn and shot past the outstretched keeper, from the edge of the penalty area.
Mid-fielder Hughton Hector was instrumental in both goals, sending in a corner for Aras to volley home while he teed up Winchester who extended the lead midway into the first half.
The tempo increased slightly in the second half, with Rangers’ midfielder Kwame Wiltshire forcing Jan-Michael Williams to tip his freekick onto the crossbar, and out for a corner, after 52 minutes of play.
And, from the subsequent spot-kick, referee Rashby McPhee awarded a penalty after an infringement in the box, but Josimar Belgrave’s tame low right-footer was pushed out of play by Jan-Michael Williams.
Connection was also the beneficiary of a penalty, in the 69th, after veteran defender Joseph Peters brought down Matthew Bartholomew on his way to goal.
Bartholomew’s first effort rebounded off the legs of Daurance Williams but McPhee ordered a re-take, for an infringement, but the striker could not make amends as he sent his right-footer wide.
Connection suffered the loss of wing-back Kern Cupid in the 81st, who was shown a straight red card for retaliation on Rangers’ make-shift defender Beville Joseph, and the defender showed his displeasure by pointing his hand towards the referee’s face and taking an eternity to retreat to the dressing room.