Stars go second; Central snaps six-game winless streak

North East Stars edged St Ann’s Rangers 1-0 to move to second place in the Pro League standings yesterday evening while Central FC snapped a six-game winless streak with a 4-1 romp over San Juan Jabloteh in an Ato Boldon Stadium double header in Couva.

Stars and Rangers have the league’s most sterile offensive set ups with 12 and 11 goals respectively from 13 outings before kick off. There was never going to be a goalfest and, when the dust settled, it was Kennedy Hinkson who got the game’s only goal with a 27th minute penalty.

Photo: North East Stars utility player Kennedy Hinkson got the winner against St Ann's Rangers. (Courtesy Wired868)
Photo: North East Stars utility player Kennedy Hinkson got the winner against St Ann’s Rangers.
(Courtesy Wired868)

At the other end, Stars captain Cleon John helped the Sangre Grande-based club to its seventh clean sheet of the season, which is just one short of the league high mark of eight by present leader DIRECTV W Connection.

In the second outing, Central finally broke from the shackles with a 4-1 triumph that was not quite as comfortable as the score summary might suggest.


Jabloteh pressed Central hard but could not match the quality of coach Terry Fenwick’s team as the “Couva Sharks” pulled off their first win for the year on Valentine’s Day.

Teenage winger Samuel Delice got his first top flight goal in the fifth minute as he banged home from close range after the Jabloteh defence made a mess of a deep Elton John free kick into the penalty area.

And, in first half stoppage time, Jason Marcano scored his fifth league item this term and his second in successive matches as he bravely charged into the six yard box to apply a simple finish to a low, raking Rundell Winchester cross.

Photo: San Juan Jabloteh attacker Bradley Welch (left) runs at Police FC defender Anton Hutchinson. (Courtesy Allan V Crane/ Wired868)
Photo: San Juan Jabloteh attacker Bradley Welch (left) runs at Police FC defender Anton Hutchinson.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/ Wired868)

There might have been some jitters in the 56th minute when new Jabloteh signing and former national youth team forward Bradley Welch brought the “San Juan Kings” back into the game with a cracking finish in the far corner after Nyron Jones picked him out on top the Central penalty area.

Jabloteh had managed a last gasp draw against Central, against the run of play, when the teams last met on 5 January 2014.

But ex-Guaya midfielder Leston Paul helped the Sharks pull clear with two telling contributions to ease the pressure on his new boss.

In the 61st minute, the Jabloteh defence half-cleared a Marcano corner kick and Paul’s firm, side-footed volley was deflected on to an upright by opposing winger Rennie Britto before Willis Plaza roofed the rebound from point blank range.

And Paul and Plaza teamed up again in the second minute of stoppage time as the diminutive midfielder danced past three opponents and teed up Plaza for a composed finish past Jabloteh goalkeeper Shane Mattis.


Photo: Central FC striker Willis Plaza (centre) tangles with North East Stars midfielder Keithy Simpson (left) while Marvin Oliver looks on. Plaza scored a double yesterday as Central whipped Jabloteh 4-1. (Courtesy Allan V Crane/ Wired868)
Photo: Central FC striker Willis Plaza (centre) tangles with North East Stars midfielder Keithy Simpson (left) while Marvin Oliver looks on.
Plaza scored a double yesterday as Central whipped Jabloteh 4-1.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/ Wired868)

Central stayed in sixth place despite yesterday’s win. However, a win over Defence Force from 6 pm next Tuesday at the Ato Boldon Stadium can see the Sharks jump to anywhere from fourth to second according to results today.

Second placed Point Fortin Civic hosts fourth placed Caledonia AIA from 3.30 pm at Mahaica Oval today. Civic is unbeaten in Point Fortin this year with 11 points from a possible 15 in its last five matches.

Defence Force, the defending Pro League champion, will make its first league outing next Tuesday since a 1-1 draw against W Connection on 3 January 2014. The army/coast guard combination was subsequently suspended from the competition as part of the Government’s effort to address the steep murder rate.

(Teams)

Central (4-2-3-1): 21.Jan-Michael Williams (GK); 12.Jamal Jack, 2.Elton John, 50.Yohance Marshall, 3.Keion Goodridge; 6.Leston Paul, 11.Darren Mitchell; 17.Rundell Winchester (4.Sean De Silva 86), 7.Jason Marcano, 27.Samuel Delice (13.Johan Peltier 81); 1.Willis Plaza (22.Keon Trim 90)

Unused substitutes: 25.Javon Sample (GK), 9.Dwight Quintero, 15.Kaydion Gabriel, 24.Akeem Benjamin.

Coach: Terry Fenwick

 

Jabloteh (3-5-2): 30.Shane Mattis (GK); 6.Dario Holmes, 18.Jevon Morris, 25.Alfie James; 16.Nyron Jones (5.Mudassa Howe 76), 4.Jean-Luc Rochford (9.Jelani Felix 64), 2.Duran Dilworth,23.Marcus Gomez, 21.Neil Mitchell (7.Rennie Britto 63); 15.Micah Lewis, 8.Bradley Welch.

Unused substitutes: 10.Kerry Baptiste, 17.Kerry Daniel, 19.Dillon Kirton, 24.Kareem Smith.

Coach: Keith Jeffrey

 

Referee: Glendon Superville

 

Pro League results

North East Stars 1 (Kennedy Hinkson 27 pen), St Ann’s Rangers 0 at Ato Boldon

Central FC 4 (Samuel Delice 5, Jason Marcano 45, Willis Plaza 61, 90+), San Juan Jabloteh 1 (Bradley Welch 56) at Ato Boldon

Today’s fixture

Point Fortin Civic vs Caledonia AIA, 3.30 pm, Mahaica Oval;

Upcoming fixture

(Tue Feb 18)

Central FC vs Defence Force, 6 pm, Ato Boldon Stadium.

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About Lasana Liburd

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.

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2 comments

  1. I have to agree with Harrison central remains unbeaten. The vast majority of W Connection players are from aboard and that must be noted as part of the contribution to their success. These guys come to T&T to sleep, eat and breed football. I’m loving Central FC because their players are 100% local. I would really like to see wired868 highlight the referees short comings when these matches take place. Time after time I see wrong calls that cost the relevant opponents the match and that’s not good enough. I have written to TT Pro League via their Facebook page but I guess they are to embarrass to give a response. They really need to train and retrain their officials and have them know the difference between a tackle that calls for a penalty and a normal tackle. It’s very discouraging to attend these matches and see the same mistakes repeat itself by the officials. With that being said, kudos to the Author your doing a great job.

  2. Despite the run of draws from Central F.C., they remain the only Pro League team unbeaten in 2014. Having not lost in the league since early December, they have now gone 8 matches unbeaten and are second to W.Connection in season losses, only being defeated twice!

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