Pro round-up: ‘Showtime’ secures Cunupia’s first win, Rangers stumble on the road

Twelve times must be a charm. Cunupia FC recorded their first win as a Pro League club yesterday, as a double by talismanic forward Kevon ‘Showtime’ Woodley helped them see off Tiger Tanks Club Sando 2-1.

Cunupia, coached by Michael De Four, returned five draws and six losses from their previous 11 games but received a fresh lease on life thanks to their veteran frontman. At present, Cunupia are bottom of the 11-team standings with eight points, which is four points shy of ninth and tenth place teams Club Sando and Point Fortin Civic respectively.

Club Sando were coming off a 5-0 win against San Juan Jabloteh and a 3-2 triumph over W Connection but could not make it three wins in a row last night. National Under-20 midfielder Shaqkeem Joseph nullified Woodley’s first item with his sixth goal of the season but his team could not muster a second response, as they crashed to their sixth defeat—a joint high loss record that they share with Cunupia.

In another fixture yesterday, second placed Terminix La Horquetta Rangers again showed their frailty on the road as they needed a late Aikim Andrews goal to hold AC Port of Spain 2-2 at the Larry Gomes Stadium in Malabar. It was a stark change from the meeting of the two clubs at Phase 2, La Horquetta where Rangers routed AC 7-2 last December.

This season, Rangers have four wins, one draw and one loss at home with 27 goals scored and five conceded. But on the road, their offensive returns drop by a third while they have allowed twice as many goals. Yesterday’s draw means that, away from La Horquetta, coach Dave Quamina’s team have two wins, one draw and three losses with eight goals scored and 10 conceded.

Once more, former national youth team midfielder John-Paul Rochford was on the score card as he contributed his fourth goal this season for AC, who are eighth in the standings.

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W Connection were also in action yesterday as they edged Point Fortin Civic 2-1 thanks to a late goal by forward Jevaughn Humphrey. The result pushed the ‘Savonetta Boys’ up one place to fifth.

It was Civic’s third straight defeat, which saw the Point Fortin-based club drop to one place off the foot of the standings. Coincidentally, giant forward Kerville Jeremiah, who is joint second in the Pro League scoring charts with six items, is on a three match goal drought.

Pro League continues with just three matches in midweek rather than five, due to a shortage of venues. As a result, fixtures pitting Club Sando against third place Police FC and Cunupia versus leaders Defence Force FC have been postponed until next week. Meanwhile, Rangers are on a bye.

It means fourth place Morvant Caledonia United, W Connection and a resurgent Central FC, who are sixth, all have opportunities to make up ground on the leaders.

Pro League results

(Friday 7 February)

Central FC 3 (Akim Armstrong 11, Ché Benny 61 pen, 72), San Juan Jabloteh 1 (Justin Araujo-Wilson 5) at Ato Boldon Stadium;

Police FC 2 (Juma Clarence 10, Kareem Freitas 58), Morvant Caledonia 2 (Tev Lawrence 62, 83) at Ato Boldon Stadium;

(Sunday 9 February)

AC Port of Spain 2 (John-Paul Rochford 45, Sedale McLean 73), Terminix La Horquetta Rangers 2 (Tyrone Charles 2, Aikim Andrews 87) at Larry Gomes Stadium;

W Connection 2 (Kurt Frederick 12 pen, Jevaughn Humphrey 81), Point Fortin Civic 1 (Daniel Diaz 71) at Ato Boldon Stadium;

Club Sando 1 (Shaqkeem Joseph 53), Cunupia FC 2 (Kevon Woodley 50, 70) at Ato Boldon Stadium.

Upcoming fixtures

(Tuesday 11 February)

M’vt Caledonia Utd v San Juan Jabloteh, 6pm, Ato Boldon Stadium;

(Wednesday 12 February)

Central FC v W Connection, 6pm, Ato Boldon Stadium;

Point Fortin Civic v AC Port of Spain, 7pm, Mahaica Oval.