Substitute keeps Defence Force rising.
T&T Guardian Reports.
Second-half substitute Sherman “Ants” Phillip scored in the 90th minute to earn 10-man Defence Force an eight win from its last 11 matches in the T&T Pro League at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo.
Phillip scored on a right sided cross from speedy winger Kevon Carter to earn his team a 2-1 win over Superstar Rangers in the first match of a double-header.
In a match that seemed that nobody wanted to win based on the number of missed opportunities at both ends of the field, veteran midfielder Ricardo Aleong handed Rangers an 11th minute after Defence Force striker Devon Jorsling missed a golden chance to put his team ahead early on.
That lead only lasted seven minutes as Defence Force midefidler Sean Narcis headed in his team’s equaliser in the 18th minute.
The game was now an open affair with the chances coming at both ends off the field at a fast and furious pace.
Both Mc Farlane (Rangers) and Carter (Defence Force) had chances to snatch a winner for their team until, an unmarked Carter picked out Phillip in the area, and with only Mattis to beat he saw his weak header nestled into the back of the net.
With the win Defence Force improved to 31 points from 18 matches and third spot.
In the day’s other early match, Neal & Massy Caledonia got two goals in the space of two minutes to beat Tobago United 2-1 at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva. Guyanese striker Collie Hercules had given the Tobagonians an 18th minute lead which they carried deep into the second-half.
Carlyle Mitchell got Caledonia level in the 79th minute and two minutes later, Sheldon Emmanuel converted a penalty to earn his team the win and the lead in the 10-team table with 39 points, one ahead of San Juan Jabloteh who came up against Police in the second match at Mucurapo lost 3-1. A second half double by Kaaron Foster and a 12 minute item from Christopher Sam did it for Police. Antiguan striker Peter Byers got the lone goal for Jabloteh in the 44th.
Defence Force: - Kevin Graham, Anton Pierre (capt), Anton Joseph (Jerwin Balthazar), Corey Rivers, Devon Jordon, Michael Edwards, Christopher Durity (Sherman Phillips), Sean Narcis, Kevon Carter, Devon Jorsling, Richard Roy.
Superstar Rangers: - Shane Mattis, Lorne Joseph (Marvin James), Ricardo Aleong, Don Morris, Todd Ryan, Corneal Thomas (Joseph Peters), Arnold Ferguson, Devon Modeste, Josimar Belgrave, Marc Borde, Errol Mc Farlane (capt).
