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Veteran goal poachers Kerry Baptiste and Devorn Jorsling were both on the score sheet this evening as San Juan Jabloteh and Defence Force enjoyed narrow victories over St Ann’s Rangers and Police respectively at the Marvin Lee Stadium in Macoya.
The 32-year-old Baptiste, who is the Pro League’s all-time record scorer, took his total tally to 123 goals when he followed up on an Andell Noray shot to send a crisp, first time effort past Rangers custodian Christopher Biggette.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
Rangers, who had Europe-bound player and Trinidad and Tobago national under-20 striker Kadeem Corbin in its starting team, never looked capable of an upset.
It might have been worse as referee Keilon Bacchus failed to penalise a nibble by Rangers defender Chad Clinton on Jabloteh winger Shaquille Bertrand in the first half. And Bacchus was again unmoved as Jabloteh substitute Brendon Figuera was tugged slyly by Rangers defender Keon Peters and then clattered by Biggette.
Bacchus was not always lenient though as he flashed a red card at Jabloteh’s Jamaican defender Adrian Reid for alleged abusive language at referee’s assistant Caleb Wales while Rangers midfielder Emmanuel Joseph was ejected for two bookable offences
The game’s decisive moment came in the 44th minute as Noray held off Rangers defender Shaquille Moses and managed a low, powerful shot on the turn that Biggette kept out with his legs.
In the second match of the Macoya double header, Jorsling, who is two years younger than Baptiste at 30, took his own goal count to 118 with a clinical hattrick in a 4-2 win against Police.
Only three players have ever managed more than 100 Pro League goals with the third being retired former Joe Public standout Arnold Dwarika who scored103 times in the local top flight.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
And Jorsling, who is just five goals shy of Baptiste, will surely have the top spot in his sight. It will come quickly if he faces defences as generous as Police’s.
Jorsling’s first came in the fourth minute as he allowed the ball run across his body before slapping home with his right foot off the underside off the bar. He got his double in the 43rd minute with a cool finish after Police defender Clevon McFee cushioned a header into his path.
And the treble came in the 60th minute as an unmarked Jorsling banged into the corner from a Dave Long cross before the hattrick hero was replaced by Richard Roy in the 68th minute.
Roy might have had another three goals if he played the full 90 minutes as the defending took a farcical turn for both teams.
Police pulled a goal back in the 83rd minute as substitute Kenaz Williams squeezed a shot past Defence Force custodian Andre Marchan after the former Club Sando player denied Jameel Perry from close range.
But Marchan and Police goalkeeper Adrian Foncette were both abandoned by their defences after that as Defence Force attacker Josimar Belgrave and Perry converted one on ones with the opposing goalkeepers.
Defence Force still ended on the right side of the goal spree, though, as the “Teteron Boys” moved to the top of the Pro League; albeit with Central FC and defending champion team DIRECTV W Connection both enjoying games in hand.
(Teams)
Defence Force (4-2-3-1): 28.Andre Marchan (GK); 14.Cory Rivers (captain) (13.Marvin Jones 68), 8.Curtis Gonzales, 6.Rodell Elcock, 21.Aklie Edwards; 3.Keston Williams, 4.Dave Long; 23.Kerry Joseph (11.Akeem Roach 77), 10.Josimar Belgrave, 17.Ross Russel Jr; 9.Devorn Jorsling (26.Richard Roy 68).
Unused substitutes: 25.Sheldon Clarke (GK), 12.Jemel Sebro, 18.Sean Narcis, 22.Jamali Garcia.
Coach: Ross Russell
Police FC (4-2-3-1): 18.Adrian Foncette (GK); 29.Clevon McFee, 5.Anton Hutchinson, 20.Elijah Belgrave, 25.Noel Williams; 38.Jabari Williams, 32. Kaaron Foster (6.Kenaz Williams 56); 35.Kerry Frederick (30.Marcus Chandool 60), 10.Trent Noel, 19.Christon Thomas; 15.Jameel Perry,
Unused substitutes: 34.Keston Mata (GK), 1.Errol Charles, 2.Jasimar Ashers, 9.Hector Sam, 39.Kevin Lewis,
Coach: Richard Hood
Referee: Keon Yorke
Pro League results
(Fri Oct 3)
San Juan Jabloteh 1 (Kerry Baptiste 44), St Ann’s Rangers 0 at Macoya
*–RC: Adrian Reid (Jabloteh), Emmanuel Joseph (Rangers); Referee Keilon Bacchus
Defence Force 4 (Devorn Jorsling 4, 53, 60, Josimar Belgrave 84), Police FC 2 (Kenaz Williams 82, Jameel Perry 86) at Macoya
*–RC: Anton Hutchinson (Police); Referee Keon Yorke
(Sat Oct 4)
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Lasana Liburd is the managing director and chief editor at Wired868.com and a journalist with over 20 years experience at several Trinidad and Tobago and international publications including Play the Game, World Soccer, UK Guardian and the Trinidad Express.
So the ‘non-striker’ scored the only goal that was the difference between a win and possibly another draw. That’s rather ironic. Smh
An opportunity will arise
I haven’t seen any kid that I think can push Jan-Michael Williams or Marvin Phillip for another three years or so. But good luck to Marchan.
Glad to see Andre Marchan in goal. Hopefully he settles well and gains some stability in his career. National senior team appearance is imminent as well.