Defence Force in cruise control.
By: Lasana Liburd (Express).[/size]
Soldiers at ease.
There were animated celebrations on the pitch for Michael Edwards' headed second half goal on Tuesday night, which gave Defence Force an unassailable 2-0 lead over Vibe CT 105 W. Connection at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva.
Edwards, an adventurous central defender, was responsible for one of the 2007 Pro League season's worse misses on the weekend as the army/ coast guard combination edged Superstar Rangers 2-1 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port of Spain.
On Tuesday, Edwards savoured his atonement.
The body language of Defence Force coach Kerry Jamerson was more revealing though. Jamerson, a former "Strike Squad" star, sauntered towards the touch line, offered polite applause and strolled back towards the technical area nonplussed.
Connection are the most successful outfit in the history of the local professional game-they have three league titles to CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh's two-while army's last league conquest came eight years ago when Jamerson was still an active player.
But it is Defence Force who are swaggering at the moment. Tuesday's result meant Jamerson's men have recorded eight unbeaten outings in a row and three successive wins.
They face defending champions Bmobile Joe Public next, on August 25, but it is Public interim coach Michael McComie who has more reason to worry. The last time the two Pro League teams met, Defence Force won 2-0 and Public director Darryl Warner handed walking papers to the Cuban coaching duo of Domingo Hernandez and Manuel Rodriguez.
Public's 2-1 defeat to United Petrotrin on Tuesday night meant McComie's fourth loss in seven games-one more defeat than the Cuban coaches managed in 12 outings. The national under-23 boss is unlikely to survive another slip-up.
It would be folly to write off Defence Force as mere spoilers, though. Just six points off the leaders, the third placed team might have prompted nervous glances from first place Neal & Massy Caledonia AIAÂ and second placed Jabloteh on Tuesday with a typically assured display against Connection.
At their best, Connection make the game seem effortless with clever, incisive short passing and elegant technical maneuvers. It is like watching a brilliant sculptor at work.
Jamerson's men have more in common with construction workers. But there has been much to admire in their camaraderie, energy and determination of late.
Connection, who are suffering a crisis of confidence at the moment, never stood a chance.
Coach Stuart Charles-Fevrier started new signing Marvin Phillip, who was released for "disciplinary reasons" by North East Stars, but Trinidad and Tobago's reserve goalkeeper did not have a pleasant home debut.
Phillip managed a good reflex save to thwart an Anton Pierre free kick, in the 13th minute, but he was comprehensively beaten by Edwards' clever squared pass, eight minutes before the interval, that gifted striker Richard Roy a simple tap in for his sixth league goal this year.
Roy raised his arms and puffed out his chest in celebration-like a sprinter at the finish line.
Edwards, the Pro League "Man of the Match", doubled their lead in the 63rd minute.
Coaches generally prefer not to make substitutions while their teams defend set pieces and Connection might regret replacing Gefferson Goulart with Kern Cupid, seconds before Edwards' headed finish off an Anton Joseph corner kick.
Connection midfielder Ronaldo Viana provoked a fine diving save by Defence Force goalkeeper Selwyn George in the 74th minute but it the visitors who should have increased their lead as substitute Sherman "Ants" Phillip missed the top corner by inches in the dying seconds of the match.
No matter, Defence Force are four points clear of fourth placed Joe Public now and on the charge. Little wonder that Jamerson looks so relaxed.
W Connection: - Marvin Phillip, Elijah Joseph, Clyde Leon, Jose Luiz Seabra, Ronaldo Viana, Nickcolson Thomas, Gefferson Goulart (Kern Cupid), Hughtun Hector, Gerrad Williams, Jonathan Frias (Dwight Scott), Earl Jean (capt) Kevin Smith).
Defence Force: - Selwyn George, Anton Pierre (capt), Keston Williams, Michael Edwards, Anton Joseph, Akil Edwards (Keshawn Theodore), Jerwyn Balthazar (Ronald Boyce), Keston Britto, Richard Roy (Sherman Phillip), Devon Jorsling, Kevon Carter.
