Super-sub Williams helps Sando edge Public

It was not all doom and gloom in the Williams family this weekend.

Trinidad and Tobago national goalkeeper Jan-Michael Williams and the “Soca Warriors” were heartbroken in Atlanta after being edged out 1-0 by Mexico in the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinals yesterday.

But the 28-year-old custodian may find some solace in the fact that his elder brother, Keith Williams, was a match winner this afternoon. Williams (K) scored within two minutes of coming off the bench as Club Sando edged Joe Public 2-1 at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya.

Williams’ strike maintained Sando’s unbeaten form so far in the 2013 Blink/bMobile National Super League (NSL) after three rounds of matches.

In contrast, Public is yet to register a win this season as the “Eastern Lions” followed up two goalless draws with today’s narrow defeat.

At Frederick Settlement, former national youth player Qian Grosvenor scored in his third straight match as league leader Westside Superstarz maintained its 100 percent record with a 5-1 romp over Defence Force.

While, elsewhere in the NSL, Guaya United whipped Bethel United 4-1 and Stokely Vale thrashed FC Santa Rosa 5-1 while Malabar FC was involved in another high scoring draw as the rookie outfit held Siparia Spurs 4-4.

There was a second successive draw for defending champions, WASA FC, as well as the “Water Boys” played to a goalless tie with 1976 FC Phoenix. WASA is still without a win after three outings this season.

Club Sando, who finished in the bottom half of the table last year, is among a host of clubs with genuine hope of claiming the title this term.

Four of Sando’s starting players today were on Pro League rosters just a few months ago. Attacker Devon Modeste was St Ann’s Rangers’ top scorer last season while Kemuel Rivers and Kern Cupid both played full back for W Connection and striker Odelle Armstrong was on Caledonia AIA’s books.

Modeste had a hand in Sando’s first goal although captain Teba McKnight provided the finish with a side footed finish from close range in the 20th minute.

Sando was causing its own problems up until then as Cupid had to step in and calm down central defender Devon Drayton, who seemed happy to spend the match shouting criticisms at Rivers.

However, the Lions came out roaring after the interval and pulled level in the 52nd minute when Richard Inniss drilled past Sando custodian Andre Marchan with his left foot from the edge of the penalty area.

Public had switched from a 4-2-3-1 formation by then with a lone striker as captain and centre forward Ellis Dyett played a deeper, roving role in a 4-4-1-1 line-up. The Lions, who were guilty of a stream of stray passes in the first half, kept the ball better thereafter. But perhaps their equaliser came too soon.

Awakened and suitably inspired, Sando poured forward and it only seemed to be a matter of time before the visiting team would regain its lead.

Public custodian John-Ramses Thomas made a sharp reflex save to keep out Sando midfielder Anthony Parris in the 56th minute while, within a minute, Armstrong volleyed wastefully away when played clean through by McKnight.

Thomas had to be alert again in goal as he clawed away a McKnight effort in the 66th minute after an accurate left side cross by Sando substitute Nigel Daniel.

But then Sando coach Anthony Streete sent on his final sub, Williams, in the 76th minute and it was a case of third time’s the charm. The impact was almost immediate.

Public defender Nikkel Collymore tried to clear the ball but fell in a heap after being caught by a lunge from Williams. The referee ruled it was fair contact and that decision helped decide the match.

The loose ball rolled to Daniel who chipped it into the penalty area. Williams was there while Collymore was still seated and pouting outside the 18-year area.

The stocky substitute collected neatly on his chest before driving to the left of the Public custodian for the winner.

His younger brother, Jan-Michael, has more than emotional ties to Club Sando as he also serves as the team’s goalkeeping coach. So the score summary should be welcome news at the end of a disappointing weekend.

Perhaps the Williams brothers will both be in Sando’s squad next Sunday, as coach and player, as third-placed Sando hosts fourth-placed Stokely Vale at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella.

(Teams)

Joe Public (4-2-3-1): 24.John-Ramses Thomas (GK); 6.Sheldon Nesbitt, 13.Ayinde Chinyelu, 11.Nikkel Collymore, 5.Keron Khan; 2.Marlon Bernard, 28.Kevin Caprietta; 21.Richard Inniss (23.Desmond Baptiste 58), 25.Jeremy McMeo (18.Keino Goodridge 21), 17.Arvid Applewhite; 10.Ellis Dyett (Captain).

Unused substitutes: 4.Kashif Clarke, 12.Jamel Lewis, 16.Leandro Subero, 22.Kelon Rampersad (GK), 26.Trevis Quirico.

Coach: Dale Saunders

 

Club Sando (4-1-4-1): 1.Andre Marchan (GK); 13.Kern Cupid, 20.Dwayne Charles, 5.Devon Drayton, 6.Kemuel Rivers; 4.Anthony Parris; 14.Randy Britto (9.Jesse Downing 61), 11.Teba McKnight (Captain), 24.Devon Modeste, 18.Andre Phillip (12.Nigel Daniel 63); 25.Odelle Armstrong (16.Keith Williams 76).

Unused substitutes: 7.Stefon Brereton, 10.Andy London, 17.Devon Bristol, 33.Alexei Julien (GK).

Coach: Anthony Streete

Blink/bMobile National Super League Results 

(Sunday July 21)

Joe Public 1 (Richard Inniss 52), Club Sando 2 (Teba Mc Knight 20, Keith Williams 78) at Macoya

WASA 0, Phoenix 0 at WASA

Siparia Spurs 4 (Len Mejias 3, 17, Anthony Noriega 43, Jesse Edwards 69), Malabar FC 4 (Hayden Tinto 21, Steven Stoute 38, Shane Mattis 61, Cyrano Glen 73) at Palo Seco

Defence Force 1 (Jamil Reece 7), Westside Superstarz 5 (Kevon Piper 45, Keron Cummings 46, David Lendore 71, Qian Grosvenor 85, Christon Freitas 86) at Frederick Settlement

FC Santa Rosa 1 (Gerard De Verteuil 34), Stokely Vale 5 (Onasi Forde 56, 83, Dorian Robinson 58, 68, 86) at O’Meara

Guaya United 4 (Jody Allsop 40, 52, Ryan Stewart 83, Kheelon Ferrier 86), Bethel United 1 (Houston Scott 82) at Guaya

[standings league_id=9 template=extend logo=false]