Joe Public held to another draw.
...lead at top cut in half.
By: James Saunders (ttproleague).[/size]
"It was a bit of an anti-climax", that was the common sentiment being echoed around the partisan crowd who gathered at the Hasely Crawford Stadium to witness a much anticipated top of the table clash between league leaders B Mobile Joe Public and 3rd placed Vibe CT 105 W Connection—after all was said and done, it ended goalless. On a cool breezy evening when fouls were many and goals were non-existent, the league leaders were the first to get the ball rolling in the 5th min when striker Gary Glasgow’s close range scissors kick from an Adrian Mitchell cross sailed over bar.
The Southerners made their presence felt moments later when midfielder Andrei Pacheco ran unto a loose ball on top of the 18-yard box only to see his half volleyed attempt rise harmlessly over Aleajandro Figueroa’s goal.
The ‘Eastern Lions’ however seized control of a physically tough match with Ex-National striker Arnold Dwarika and Gary Glasgow combining well to create many nervous moments in the Connection defense.
For a moment the ‘Savonetta Boys’ seemed overwhelmed by the pace of the Joe Public attack and they were lucky not to be 1-nil down in the 16th minute when keeper Jan Michael Williams dived sensationally to his left to make a one handed save off a Roen Nelson ‘rocket’ that had the word goal stitched into it’s seams.
The Jamaican had earlier dramatically weaved his way through a maze of three defenders before pulling the trigger.
The Southerners nevertheless caught their rhythm midway in the half but the Public defence stood firm.
The replacement of ace marksman Earl Jean who limped of the field with a hamstring injury in the 27th minute also did little to help their cause.
Whatever Connection coach Stuart Charles-Fervier told his charges during the break seemed to payoff almost immediately as it was the south based team that started the second-half the most purposefully.
The ‘Savonnetta Boys’ quickly seized the reins from a Macoya team that looked a shadow of the side that dominated the first-half.
Substitute Ronaldo Viana who came on for Jean, came closest to breaking the deadlock in the 52nd minute when his dipping free kick sailed just over the Public crossbar.
Two minutes later the same player shot straight at Figueroa from a tight angle after he was played through on the left side of Joe Public’s penalty area.
The League leaders refused to give up and continued to create rare chances in the half.
Dwarika found himself once again the main culprit when he flashed a low left-sided center from Glasgow wide inside the six-yard box with Williams at his mercy.
W Connection however failed to capitalize on their increased possession in the second half squandering several half chances that came their way in the final minutes of the match.
By the final blast of Richard Pipers whistle, both teams seemed contented to have come out with at least a point and survive for another day’s battle.
JOE PUBLIC v W CONNECTION
0 GOALS 0
2 YELLOW CARDS 1
0 RED CARDS 0
1 SHOTS ON TARGET 1
17 FOULS 19
0 CORNERS 4
