Wired868 Wired868 for smart sport news and opinion
A 75th minute item from Jamal Gay—his first goal of the season—kept San Juan Jabloteh’s momentum going as they recorded their third win from four Pro League outings this term with a 1-0 triumph over Ma Pau Stars at the Barataria Recreation Ground, Barataria.
Jabloteh are now on nine points and tied at the top of the table with defending champions, Central FC, although the latter team has a game in hand. Central play sixth placed Morvant Caledonia from 8pm tomorrow at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva while seventh placed W Connection face table proppers Point Fortin Civic from 6pm in the first game of a double header at the Couva venue.
(Courtesy Sean Morrison/Wired868)
Stars, on the other hand, slipped to fourth place yesterday with their second defeat of the season.
Coach Russ Russell was without ill veteran striker Jason Scotland and winger Hayden Tinto and rarely troubled Jabloteh on the day, although the contest on the whole lacked goalmouth action.
In the 15th minute, Jabloteh striker Willis Plaza played winger Noel Williams through on goal only for the latter player to hook his shot wide at the far post. The next proper goal attempt came in the 62nd minute as Jabloteh flanker Tyrone Charles almost split the bar with a left footed rocket from 25 yards that rebounded to safety.
Otherwise, the most memorable action in Barataria came from the mosquitoes. They pressed in numbers, tackled incessantly and rarely missed the target.
At this rate, the Barataria Recreation Ground should probably come with a health warning. Or the Pro League should announce Mosquito FC as its 11th team. Either way, football fans were not hopping from side to side and slapping themselves because of the action on the field yesterday and the pests ought to be an immediate concern for the Jabloteh management.
Just when patrons looked to have suffered for nought, though, Gay at least offered something for Jabloteh supporters to applaud as he redirected an Elijah Manners corner kick past his former Under-20 World Cup teammate and Stars custodian Glenroy Samuel.
Jabloteh won 1-0.
(Courtesy Sean Morrison/Wired868)
Gay did not appear to make clean contact. Maybe it came off his shoulder. Or maybe a mosquito had the final touch.
It was three points to Jabloteh all the same.
(Teams)
San Juan Jabloteh (4-2-2-2): 35.Andrew Durant (GK); 18.Jevon Morris (captain), 17.Josiah Trimmingham, 24.Adrian Reid, 6.Akeem Benjamin (15.Jerome McIntyre); 12.Kion Joseph, 5.Elijah Belgrave; 19.Noel Williams, 10.Tyrone Charles (16.Brent Sam); 7.Jamal Gay, 9.Willis Plaza (23.Kennedy Hinkson).
Unused substitutes: 36.Raheem Belgrave (GK), 8.Keyon Edwards.
Coach: Keith Jeffrey
Ma Pau Stars (4-2-3-1): 22.Glenroy Samuel (GK); 2.Carlos Edwards, 25.Keryn Navarro, 19.Glenton Wolfe, 16.Kareem Eastman; 8.Adrian Noel, 11.Elton John; 10.Jerrel Britto, 14.Chike Sullivan (4.Kerry Baptiste 57), 7.Kerry Daniel (18.Collin Samuel); 23.Anthony Wolfe (captain).
Unused substitutes: 1.Shane Mattis (GK), 3.Hakim Baird, 6.Neil Benjamin, 12.Sayid Freitas, 20.Quincy Charles.
Coach: Ross Russell
Man of the Match: Kion Joseph (Jabloteh)
(Courtesy Sean Morrison/Wired868)
Pro League results
(Friday 21 October)
Club Sando 3 (Keithy Simpson 53, 78, Akeem Humphrey 85), Defence Force 2 (Hashim Arcia 35, Sean Narcis 45) at Ato Boldon Stadium;
St Ann’s Rangers 2 (Dylon King 32, Marvin Lee 90+2), Police FC 0 at Ato Boldon Stadium;
(Sunday 23 October)
San Juan Jabloteh 1 (Jamal Gay 75), Ma Pau Stars 0 at Barataria Recreation Ground;
(Courtesy Sean Morrison/Wired868)
Upcoming fixtures
(Tuesday 24 October)
W Connection vs Point Fortin Civic, 6pm, Ato Boldon Stadium;
Central FC vs Morvant Caledonia Utd, 8pm, Ato Boldon Stadium.
Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Under-20 Team forward Malachi Webb was unplayable on the weekend, as he steered the Premier Read more
The East Zone Under-15 division of the 2023 Republic Cup National Youth Football League (NYFL) is getting quite sticky at Read more
A youthful W Connection FC team put last week’s subpar start to the inaugural Trindad and Tobago Premier Football League Read more
The Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (GoRTT) will commit a sum of TT$9m over a three-year span Read more
Sport is back—but only if you have taken the jab. Minister of Sport and Community Development Shamfa Cudjoe confirmed today, Read more
Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) president Merere Gonzales has suggested that vaccine hesitancy among Trinidad and Tobago’s student population could Read more
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.
I want dey once never again
Mosquito FC… Well yes lol
Yea rel tough ,skin still itching ?
Hahaha
And I can tell the lighting wasn’t great either. Rough one!
Had to do dancing photography last nite and that wasn’t working it’s like they were sticking on to you
..”At this rate, the Barataria Recreation Ground should probably come with a health warning. Or the Pro League should announce Mosquito FC as its 11th team”..
The fight was real! I’m not sure if I can subject myself or our employees to another night of that. At best we would have to bathe in insect repellant before we go to Barataria again! Lol.
..I know EXACTLY what you mean Lasana. LOL..
Citronella spray
..Maybe they should ask the vendor to sponsor..
We need a Pro League survival kit now? Lol.
I don’t know how Barataria residents in that area make out. Smh.
Wow barataria still have their sandfly epidemic after six… One tin of Off and you should be good ?
Result was worth the mosquitoes bite in the end lol