The league’s leading goalscorer Teba McKnight was on ruthless form on Wednesday, leading Club Sando to a return to the top of the blink/bmobile National Super League standings, with five goals in a 9-2 thrashing of struggling Westside Superstarz.
Two goals in the first half and a second half hat-trick extended McKnight’s goalscoring exploits to 26 goals for the campaign, but more importantly they boosted Club Sando three points above second-placed Malabar FC, which saw its clash with TT Defence Force postponed.
Also on target for Club Sando was Andy London who scored a late double, as well as Devon Drayton and Nigel Daniel, both of whom scored one goal each. Matthew Waldron scored two second half consolation goals for Westside.
Four other matches were played, all of which were rescheduled fixtures. Ironically, all three teams which started the day in the relegation zone, recorded victories.
WASA FC, the defending champion, which only recently secured its first win on the field this season, aided Club Sando and Malabar’s FC’s title-hopes and the Waterboys’ chance of survival with its third consecutive victory.
That came at the expense of title-contender Guaya United, in a 2-1 come-from-behind effort.
John Stewart gave Guaya the lead with his 53rd minute strike. However, his goal was cancelled out by an equalizing effort from WASA’s leading scorer Fabian Garcia on the hour-mark, before former T&T international Kerry Noray sealed the win in the 87th minute.
Cellar-placed FC Santa Rosa also scored a late goal to second a much-needed win- 2-1, over Real Maracas. Santa Rosa standout Andre Rampersad opened in the 20th minute, before 2009 Secondary Schools’ player-of-the-year Jevaughn Vance gave the club its second lead and the winner in time added on. Shaquille Smith scored Maracas’ equalizing goal on the hour-mark.
Meanwhile, Tobago clubs 1976 FC Phoenix and Stokely Vale played to a goalless draw in its derby fixture, while Bethel United moved out of the relegation zone in a convincing 4-0 win over Joe Public. All four Bethel goals were scored in the space of 15 minutes in the second half.
Action will resume on Sunday with all matches kicking off at 4 pm. Defence Force’s fixture is once again postponed. Club Sando is on a bye, giving Malabar FC another opportunity to retake the lad, when the Eastern Association champion takes the trip to Plymouth, Tobago, to face Stokely Vale.
Results
WASA FC 2 (Fabian Garcia 60th, Kerry Noray 87th) v Guaya United 1 (John Stewart 53rd)
Club Sando 9 (Teba McKnight 12th, 40th, 67th, 72nd, 90th, Devon Drayton 16th, Nigel Daniel 20th, Andy London 74th, 84th) v Westside Superstarz 2 (Matthew Waldron 50th, 81st)
1976 FC Phoenix 0 v Stokely Vale FC 0
FC Santa Rosa 2 (Andre Rampersad 20th, Jevaughn Vance 90th) v Real Maracas 1 (Shaquille Smith 60th)
Bethel United 4 (Own goal 52nd, Akim Baynes 59th, Kino Proctor 61st, 67th) v Joe Public 0
TT Defence Force v Malabar FC - Postponed
Standings
Teams*Pld*W*D*L*F*A*Pts
Club Sando*20*15*3*2*58*19*48
Malabar FC*19*14*3*2*69*27*45
Guaya Utd*18*13*1*4*45*23*40
FC Phoenix*21*7*9*5*29*35*30
Stokely Vale*19*8*2*9*30*39*26
Real Maracas*20*7*4*9*33*28*25
Westside*21*7*1*13*33*53*22
Siparia Spurs*19*5*6*8*36*36*21
Joe Public*18*5*6*7*27*30*21
Bethel Utd*20*5*5*10*28*49*20
WASA FC*20*4*6*10*23*29*18
Defence Force*16*5*3*8*23*44*18
FC Santa Rosa*19*3*5*11*20*44