Defence Force guns down Police; Central edges Rangers

Trinidad and Tobago international striker Devorn Jorsling scored in his sixth consecutive Digicel Pro League outing yesterday evening as Defence Force brushed aside Police FC 3-1 at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva.

It was the eighth successive Pro League win for the army/coast guard combination and, although the domestic season is only at the halfway stage, it is hard to see anyone catching the “Teteron Boys” at this rate.

At present, Defence Force enjoys an eight point lead over second-placed Neal & Massy Caledonia AIA although the latter team has played two games less. Defending champions DIRECT W Connection, like Caledonia, has only played nine League this season but trails the Army by nine points.

It was the third straight winless Pro League outing for Police who also drew goalless with Central FC before losing 2-1 to North East Stars last weekend.

There was finally some good news for Central though as the “Sharks” got their first League win under new coach Terry Fenwick on the fourth attempt.

Central had not won a League match since October and Fenwick’s introduction in January was followed by a 3-0 loss to Connection and successive draws against Police and T&TEC FC.

But there was no denying the Sharks last night as winger Jason Marcano inspired Central to a 3-1 win over his principal employers, St Ann’s Rangers, in Couva.

In the England Premier League, a controversial deal observed in loan arrangements ensures that players sent out on loan cannot play against their parent teams.

There is no such code in effect in Trinidad and Tobago although Rangers chairman Richard Fakoory might rue that fact as Marcano, who was loaned to Central for the remainder of the season, scored once and created two more items in a crucial win for the Pro League rookies.

Central went ahead in the 23rd minute with a precise downward header from Johan Peltier off a raking Marcano cross. It was Peltier’s first start for Central since joining the team in the January transfer window.

Antigua international striker Peter Byers was twice denied by Rangers goalkeeper Zane Coker from good scoring positions and some anxious looks were exchanged within Central’s ranks when Rangers defender Jamal Jack equalised in the 62nd minute.

Ironically, Central spent the entire transfer window trying to coax Rangers into parting with the talented defender. And Jack showed what all the fuss was about with a right foot blast from the edge of the penalty area that Central captain and goalkeeper Marvin Phillip got a hand to but could not keep out.

But Marcano ensured that Central had the last laugh with a calm clipped finish over the onrushing Coker in the 76th minute, following a Byers long try. And Rangers left back Dominic Hutchinson inadvertently hit past his own goalkeeper in the 88th minute while trying to stop a Marcano pass from reaching Central substitute Rennie Britto.

In the opening game of the Couva double header, a gutsy Police outfit made Defence Force work hard. But the result was never in doubt once speedy winger Kevon Carter opened the scoring with a bullet from just outside the area, which flew high to the right of goalkeeper Adisa Alleyne in the 13th minute.

Carter made his early reputation by barrelling down the right flank but he has proved to be even more dangerous at cutting in from the left wing in search for goals. The 2012/13 season might well be the making of the 29-year-old player as he tries to establish himself on the international stage with Trinidad and Tobago.

Defence Force did not have it all its own way though as goalkeeper Kevin Graham was twice called into action to preserve the slender advantage before the interval. Graham went full stretch to keep out a Trent Noel free kick in the 29th minute. And the soldier bettered that save, three minutes later, with a spectacular one-handed block to thwart a stinging, low Jameel Perry volley that seemed destined for the left hand corner of his goal.

Alleyne, unfortunately for Police, could not match Graham’s competence at the other end.

Seconds after the restart, Jorsling spun from 22 yards and tried a speculative effort that somehow bounced over Alleyne’s outstretched arms to double Defence Force’s advantage.

Christon Thomas pulled a goal back for Police in the 77th minute with a well-placed header off a left side Kareem Perry cross. But Carter ran on to a ball over the top of the Police defence and produced a tidy finish, high to Alleyne’s left, to ensure another three point haul for the Defence Force.

The Teteron Boys have not dropped a point in the League since 26 October 2012 when they lost 4-2 to Caledonia AIA. They will be seeking a ninth successive win when they face Central FC next week Saturday.

(Teams)

Defence Force (4-1-4-1): 1.Kevin Graham; 14.Cory Rivers (captain), 2.Glynn Franklyn, 5.Devin Jordan, 21.Aklie Edwards; 8.Curtis Gonzales; 29.Jemel Sebro (16.Kerry Joseph 71), 12.Josimar Belgrave (18.Sean Narcis 62), 15.Jerwyn Balthazar (17.Russ Russell 75), 11.Kevon Carter; 10.Devorn Jorsling.

Unused substitutes: 25.Sheldon Clarke, 4.Marvin Jones, 6.Michael Edwards, 20.Rodell Elcock.

Coach: Ross Russell

 

Police (4-4-2): 16.Adisa Alleyne; 7.Clevon McPhee, 24.Kemron Purcell, 20.Elijah Belgrave, 8.Akiba Peters; 12.Ricardo Alleyne (11.Kareem Perry 59), 10.Trent Noel, 21.Todd Ryan (captain), 19.Christon Thomas; 14.Noel Williams, 15.Jameel Perry (34.Kerry Frederick 71).

Unused substitutes: 33.Anthony Marshall, 1.Errol Charles, 2.Jasimar Ashers, 9.Keon Quow.

Coach: Richard Hood

 

Referee: Neal Brizan

Digicel Pro League 

(Fri Jan 25)

Defence Force 3 (Kevon Carter 13, 90, Devorn Jorsling 46), Police 1 (Christon Thomas 75) at Couva

Central FC 2 (Johan Peltier 24, Jason Marcano 70, Dominic Hutchinson OG 90), St Ann’s Rangers 1 (Jamal Jack 62) at Couva

[standings league_id=1 template=extend logo=true]