Defence Force hold leaders Jabloteh.
By: Ian Prescott (Express).[/size]
Defence Force's relentless march up the T&T Pro League standings continued yesterday when they met leaders CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
In the last couple weeks, the armed forces team have, after a tardy start to the season, made a steady climb up the table, scoring six victories in seven outings.
Yesterday, only a brilliant close-up save by Cleon John, their former custodian, stopped Defence Force also claiming the scalp of the league's top team.
John, bought by Jabloteh at the start of the season, got down quickly to fend away a shot from Kevon Carter which looked certain to enter the back of the net in the 89th minute, until the goalkeeper's intervention.
In a game of few opportunities, Defence Force took a 1-0 advantage in the 56th minute through Sean Narcis' spectacular goal. Meeting a cross on the right of the penalty box, Narcis volleyed first time, drilling the ball off the inside of the upright before it settled in the back of the net.
John had no answer to the power or accuracy of the shot. But Jabloteh hit back nine minutes later, when Lester Peltier angled in a rebound, after a shot by Elton John was blocked by Anton Pierre.
Defence Force appealed the goal, arguing that Peltier was in an offside position. But, with the ball coming off the Defence Force central defender, referee Neal Brizan indicated that the goal stood.
Jabloteh appeared to have gotten a second when Devon Jamerson, the overlapping left defender, bundled in a crossball that had come at him at great pace. Long after Defence Force were awarded a goal-kick, many were still debating whether it was a goal or not.
Despite further effort, neither team could get a legal item to give them victory and, in the end, a draw seemed a fair result between two evenly-matched teams.
Teams:
Defence Force: - Kevin Graham, Anton Pierre (capt), Keston Williams, Michael Edwards, David Alleyne, Corey Rivers, Sean Narcis (Jerwin Balthazar), Christian Baptiste, Devon Jorsling, Kevon Carter (Christopher Durity), Richard Roy.
Coach – Kerry Jamerson.
San Juan Jabloteh: - Cleon John, Carlon Murray, Ronald Primus, Cyd Gray, Lester Peltier (Julien Landeau), Trent Noel, Khaleem Hyland (capt), Aurtis Whitley (Elton John), Atullah Guerra (Wendell Joseph), Devon Jamerson, Peter Byers.
Coach – Terry Fenwick.
Yesterday's PFL Results:
North East Stars 1 (Glenton Wolfe 85) v United Petrotrin 1 (Marlon Lewis 24)
Caledonia AIA 1 (Anthony Abrams 51) v Joe Public 0
San Juan Jabloteh 1 (Lester Peltier 66) v Defence Force 1 (Sean Narcis 57)
Police F.C. 2 (Adrian Nunez 50, Christopher Sam 66) v Tobago United 6 (Nyron Orr 13, Collie Hercules 40-pen, 87, Kayode Lagall 62, 75, 90)
W Connection 2 (Jonatan Farias 21, Shane Calderon 73) v Superstar Rangers 0
