Former champion, Harlem Strikers ended the Central Football Association Premier Division round-robin series as top qualifiers for the Big Six after a default win over Leeds United on Tuesday.
With the no show of Leeds United at the Frederick Settlement Ground, Caroni, Strikers ended its 12-match campaign with 28 points, two more than another former league winner, Caroni Samba which will slip to third spot if KC Perseverance United (23 points) beats Couva Sports in a re-scheduled encounter on Saturday at home.
At the second match at Caroni on Tuesday night, former national Under-17 striker Ryan Frederick and Jeffon Cornwall both got hat-tricks as St Mary’s United sealed a Big-Six playoff spot with a come-from-behind 8-3 demolition of Couva Sports.
The three points pushed St Mary’s United to 22 points and fourth spot on the 13-team table two ahead of Perseverance Ball Runners while Edinburgh 500 sits in the last automatic spot with 19 points.
However, T&T Highlanders (16 points) and Couva Sports (15 pts) can still pip them with matches left to play.
Couva Sports first play KC Perseverance United on Saturday while its also to face Highlanders on a date still to be determined.
Last year, Eagles United won the “Big-Six” beating Caroni Samba in the final, however, Eagles now campaign in the National Super League.
Meanwhile the CFA Sanitank League Cup kicks off on Monday where Leeds United will defend its $5,000 title. The runner-up will collect $2,000 and third $1,000.
CFA RESULTS - Premier Division (Tuesday)
Harlem Strikers 3 vs Leeds Utd 0—By Default
St Mary’s Utd 8 (Ryan Frederick 6th, 15th, 37th, Jeffon Cornwall 42nd, 68th, 81st, Andre Nicholas 71st, Carlon Lewis 87th) vs Couva Sports 3 (Kerron Mitchell 2nd, Collin Pascall 61st, Karel Greene 90th)
Strugglers 6 vs Cap Off Youths 1
Standings (CFA Premier Division)
Teams P W D L F A Pts
Harlem Strikers 12 8 4 0 33 10 28
Caroni Samba 12 8 2 2 30 13 26
Perseverance Utd 11 7 2 2 36 13 23
St Mary’s 12 6 4 2 27 14 22
Ball Runners 12 6 2 4 30 23 20
Edinburgh 12 5 4 3 24 19 19
Highlanders 11 5 1 5 43 25 16
Las Lomas 12 5 1 6 20 32 16
Couva Sports 10 5 0 5 26 26 15
Leeds Utd 12 4 0 8 15 27 12
Flamengo 11 3 1 7 26 46 10
Strugglers 11 2 0 9 16 39 6
Cap off Youths 12 0 1 11 10 49 1
REMAINING MATCHES
Tomorrow
Flamengo vs Strugglers, Woodford Lodge, Chaguanas, 5.30pm
Saturday
KC Perseverance Utd vs Couva Sports, Perseverance Rec Ground, Couva, 4pm
To be determined:
T&T Highlanders vs Couva Sports
Sanitank League Cup fixtures: Round-of-16
Monday Nov 14
Strugglers vs Edinburgh 500, Woodford Lodge, Chaguanas, 5.30pm (B)
Couva Sports vs T&T Highlanders, Frederick Settlement, Caroni 5.30pm (A)
Friday Nov 18
Las Lomas Utd vs Cap Off Youths, Woodford Lodge, Chaguanas, 5.30pm (D)
Leeds Utd vs St Mary’s Utd, Frederick Settlement, Caroni, 5.30pm (E)
Sunday Nov 20
Perseverance Ball Runners vs Flamengo, Woodford Lodge, Chaguanas, 4.30pm (C)