Central FC and Heritage Petroleum Point Fortin Civic joined fellow T&T Premier Football League (TTPFL) Tier I clubs Prisons FC and San Juan Jabloteh in the round of 16 in the TTPFL Knockout competition with wins in their preliminary round matches on Wednesday night.
At the Phase II Recreation Ground, La Horquetta, Gary Griffith III netted on the stroke of half-time to put Central FC 1-0 ahead against Guaya United before Ricardo John made it 2-0, five minutes after the restart. This was followed by Anslem Jackson’s 66th-minute effort for a 3-0 lead before Keston Frontin pulled a goal back for the Southerners in the 73rd, but it was too little too late.
At the Mahaica Sporting Complex, host Point Fortin Civic got a brace from Shackiel Henry in the 20th and 89th while Shivaughn Best also netted in the 90th in their 3-0 defeat of visitors Petit Valley/Diego Martin United.
In Wednesday’s early matches, San Juan Jabloteh and Prisons Service registered contrasting victories over Defence Force II FC and Matura Re-United at the YTC Ground in Arouca and La Horquetta, respectively.
Bottom of the 12-team standings in Tier I, Jabloteh signalled their intention to make amends for a less-than-expected finish by edging Defence Force 2-1 at Phase II recreation ground, while Prisons Services FC was more convincing in their victory, hammering Matura Re-United 4-0.
Kevon "Showtime" Woodley seemed to have regained his goal-scoring touch since leaving Cunupia FC earlier this season, with the opening goal in Jabloteh's triumph. The other goal came courtesy of an own goal by Tevin Latapy of the Defence Force which handed the San Juan men an easy passage through to the round of 16.
The lone Defence Force goal, on the other hand, was scored by Jerwyn Balthazar.
At the YTC ground in Arouca, the home team produced a menacing performance to cruise into the round of 16. Jordan Devonish propelled them into the lead with a 27th-minute item, which was one of three goals scored before the half-time interval.
Akeem Bibi-Bailey then handed the prison officers a two-goal advantage in the 35th minute, before Anthony Parris sent them to the break comfortably with a three-goal lead with a 44th-minute strike.
Josiah Joseph then sealed the win in the 85th minute with his goal.
The round-of-16 kicks off tomorrow (on Saturday), with newly crowned Tier I champions Defence Force facing Prisons Service to kick off their bid for a double crown and Police FC meeting Jabloteh in the two all-Tier I encounters following the draw at the Diego Martin Sporting Complex, on Thursday morning.
Results:
San Juan Jabloteh 2 (Kevon Woodley, Own Goal Tevin Latapy) vs Defence Force II 1 (Jerwyn Balthazar)
Prisons Services 4 (Jordan Devonish 27th, Akeem Bibi-Bailey 35th, Anthony Parris 44th, Josiah Joseph 85th) vs Matura Re-United- 0
Central FC 3 (Gary Griffith III 45th, Ricardo John 50th, Anslem Jackson 66th) vs Guaya United 1 (Keston Kadeem Frontin 73rd)
Point Fortin Civic 3 (Shackiel Henry 20th, 89th, Shivaughn Best 90+3) vs Petit Valley/Diego Martin 0
Round-of-16 matches: - Tomorrow Saturday, July 1:
Defence Force vs Prisons Service
Harlem Strikers vs AC Port-of-Spain
Police FC vs San Juan Jabloteh
Phoenix FC vs Point Fortin Civic
UTT vs Central FC
La Horquetta Rangers vs Police (Tier II)
San Fernando Giants vs QPCC
Remaining preliminary match:
Cunupia FC vs Bethel FC
Remaining round-of-16 match:
Club Sando vs Cunupia FC/Bethel FC winner
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