Nelson hattrick as ‘Lions’ roar past Tobago to stay top.
By: Opoku Ware (ttproleague).[/size]
Joe Public’s Jamaican striker Roen Nelson turned on the heat on Tobago United and scored a hat trick to power his team to a 5-1 victory in a Pro League game at Shaw Park in Tobago on Monday, which in effect kept the ‘Eastern Lions’ on top of the standings.
Nelson displayed lightening pace, superb control and clinical finishing to score goals in the 30th, 60th and 90th (penalty) minutes to keep the Michael Mc Commie coached team, flying high in the T&T Pro League.
The ‘Eastern Lions’ were on target from as early as the 2nd minute of the game when Terrance McAllister unleashed a scorching bullet from the right side of the penalty area to put Public one up.
Joe Public had so much depth in their line up that they could have afforded to leave the experienced former national midfielder Arnold Dwarika on the substitute bench. Public still was able to showcase a fast paced, clinical passing game and finished the first half two goals ahead.
It was always going to be difficult for the Tobago team to get back into the game but to their credit, they came out fighting in the second half of their game with their captain Dwayne Jack and former national stand out Ancil Elcock orchestrating their plays from the back. However, it was new signing Silas Spann, Sean Power and Michael- Lee Celestine who took control of the midfield and fed Reon Nelson a steady flow of passes.
The 23 year old Jamaican was rampant as he constantly made dangerous runs through the Tobago United defence. It was he who put Joe Public further ahead in the 60th minute, using his pace to round the Tobago Untied defence and goal keeper.
Tobago United kept on fighting and Garth Woodley pulled one back in the 79th minute, but Nelson continued to torment the Tobago Team and in the 85th minute he sped down the right side and squared back for Kendall Davis who made no mistake tapping home a sitter.
The game ended on a sour note for the Tobago lads when key defender Kevin Adams was red carded for a hard tackle on a Joe Public striker in the 90th minute. Nelson stepped up and scored the penalty, sending goalkeeper Rondell Renwick the wrong way.
Teams
Joe Public- Alejandro Figueroa, Dale Saunders (capt.), Devon Caseman, Carlos Gonzalez, Michael- Lee Celestine, Abbassi McPherson, Seon Power, Terrance McAllister, Silas Spann, Gary Glasgow, Reon Nelson.
Coach- Michael McComie.
Tobago United- Rondell Renwick, Kevin Adams, Dwayne Jack (capt.), Ancil Elcock, Darryl James, Marvin Phillips, Handell Manswell, Keon Samuel, Kwame Wiltshire, Gerron McKnight, Garth Woodley.
Coach- Peter Granville.
Match Referee- Lester Alleyne
JOE PUBLIC v TOBAGO UNITED
5 GOALS 1
0 YELLOW CARDS 2
0 RED CARDS 1
9 SHOTS ON TARGET 5
10 FOULS 8
7 CORNERS 4
6 OFFSIDES 1
