A SHEM MC FARLANE hattrick assured Superstar Rangers third spot in their first season in the National Super League on Saturday when the St Ann’s-based side came from behind three times to defeat PLIPDECO Caroni 4-3 at Hasely Crawford Stadium.
Randy Weston scored twice and Matthew Hayden once for the “Sugar Boys”.
In the opening match of the double-header at the Port-of-Spain venue, M&M Harvard, the other North team in the competition, stayed clear of regulation by shutting out Tobago’s Biwater Stokely Vale 3-0 in a surprise win.
Harvard led 2-0 at half-time with goals by Kendell Baptiste (4th) and Sheldon Mondesir (44th). Christon Freitas rounded off the scoring in the 72nd minute.
Club Sando remained in trouble of having to face the winners of the zones in a play-off to stay in the league next season by going under 0-1 to Angostura 1976 FC Phoenix at Skinner Park, San Fernando.
The lone goal of the match was scored in the first-half by Brent Cruickshank.
With the competition coming to a close, Moruga and Carib can finish no higher than last and second-to-last and will be returning to the Southern Football Association and Eastern Football Association respectively.
CLUB SANDO 0 v ANGOSTURA 1976 FC PHOENIX 1 (Brent Cruickshank).
M&M HARVARD 3 (Kendell Baptiste 4th; Sheldon Mondesir 44th; Christon Freitas 72nd) v BIWATER STOKELY VALE 0.
SUPERSTAR RANGERS 4 (Shem McFarlane 3, Akudu Goodridge) v PLIPDECO CARONI 3 (Randy Weston 2, Matthew Hayden).