Inconsistent Army drub Starworld Strikers 3-1.
By: Vinod Narwani (ttproleague).[/size]
Defence Force got two first half goals and a late item after the interval to beat San Fernando Starworld Strikers 3-1 in round-24 of the TT Pro League at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella.
The southerners, who are surprise semi-finalists in the First Citizens Cup enjoyed the early exchanges and were close to drawing first blood in the 5th minute of play with a build up around the box, only for custodian Kevin Graham to intervene and spoil the opposition’s party.
Starworld again went in search of the opening item in the 10th minute when Nigel Hart made a distribution from the left flank across the goalmouth, and Randolph Jerome stretched out his legs but narrowly missed the ball.
Nine minutes later, Andre Charles volleyed the ball from a corner, but Graham saved the shot.
But then came the surprise following an infringement by the men from south just outside the box.
A quickly taken indirect free-kick by skipper Anton Pierre was calmly slotted into the back of the net by Odelle Armstrong in the 20th minute to give the Army men the lead.
The insurance goal came in the 32nd minute when Kevon Carter found Pierre, whose pass from the right across the box beat Starworld goalkeeper Marvin Phillip and Anton Joseph was quick to feast on it—the men from Tetron leading 2-0
In the second half, the men from the Southland showed a sense of urgency immediately after the break by getting into Defence Force’s half of the field.
It paid dividends in the 49th minute when the pressure caused Claude Adams to handle the ball inside his box.
The penalty kick was converted by Charles, which gave the Michael Maurice-coached side a lifeline—2-1 the score.
Both teams, however, struggled in-between to get the better of the other.
But then, the Army ensured victory—striker Kevon Carter brilliantly controlled a neat pass from Adams on the left, just inside the Starworld box, and he slammed home the item that gave the Army men a sense of security in the 76th minute.
About 60 seconds later, a low drive from Joseph was just off-target as Defence Force were now pumped up.
Starworld’s next best chance of finding the back of the onion bag was Hart’s powerful drive from the left that hit the side of the net.
More trouble was to follow for Starworld when Dexter Franklyn received his second yellow card of the match for a tackle on substitute Balondemu Julius in the 86th minute, and they were down to 10 men. The southerners survived the remaining four minutes, but Defence Force were the ones to take home three points.
Teams
Starworld Strikers[/b] – Marvin Phillip, Marc Borde, Jamal Ayres (Jason Charles in 37th), Andre Charles, Errol Charles, Marlon Stoute, Ghymo Harper (Kester Cornwall in 77th), Nigel Hart, Dexter Franklyn, Randolph Jerome, Iyaka Okechekwu Stanley (Lindsie Sherwood in 61st).
Coach—Michael Maurice
Defence Force – Kevin Graham, Anton Pierre, Kelshall Alexander, Michael Edwards, Claude Adams, Devorn Jorsling (Jerwyn Balthazar in 65th), Kevon Carter (Balondemu Julius in 79th), David Alleyne, Anton Joseph, Corey Rivers, Odelle Armstrong (Sean Narcis in 55th).
Coach—Anthony Barrington
STARWORLD STRIKERS v DEFENCE FORCE
1 GOALS 3
3 YELLOW CARDS 3
1 RED CARDS 0
3 SHOTS ON TARGET 5
11 FOULS 12
6 CORNERS 1
5 OFFSIDES 10
