Jabloteh whips North East 2-0 to take lead.
By: Gordon Pierre (ttproleague).[/size]
San Juan Jabloteh got passed a battling North East Stars outfit 2-0 at the Larry Gomes Stadium on Friday to take poll position in the Pro League title race with one match day to go.
The win, doubled with defeats for fellow title chasers Joe Public and Caledonia leaves Jabloteh three points clear at the top of the table and favorites to capture the 2007 Pro League title.
In a game that was played on a field made heavy by all day rain, Jabloteh would have the first try on goal when youngster Devon Jamerson shot from 40yards out but his shot was easily handled by North East keeper Curtis Granger in the 3rd minute.
Two minutes later Lester Peltier should have put his team in front when a defensive mix up left him with time and space inside the 18yards box but he somehow pulled his shot wide. In the 7th minute Dwayne Jack turned a Khaleem Hyland corner wide.
After that, North East started to settle with Kendall Velox and Kevin Jeffrey pulling the strings in the midfield. In the 11th minute Jeffrey shot powerfully from on top the box but his shot was straight to Cleon John in the Jabloteh goal. One minute latter Velox would watch as his snap shot whizzed inches wide.
World Cup veteran Cyd Gray could not direct a Jamerson cross on goal when he made one of his over lapping runs in the 17th minute. Jabloteh was almost made to pay for that miss one minute later when Kevin Jeffrey’s turn quickly fired a shot goal ward, but his shot was wide. With North East pressing, Akeil Guevara hit over bar after a beautiful one two with Anthony Wolfe left the Jabloteh goal at his mercy in the 20th. Two minutes later Jeffrey had Cleon John at full straight to tip over his shot from distance. The game then turned into a dogfight with neither team giving an inch and Jabloteh coach Terry Fenwick barking instructions from the touch line.
The scores remained 0-0 at the half with all to play for in the second session. Jabloteh made two changes at the half, bringing on Cornell Glen and Ataullah Guerra in the search for the goals but it was North East who would have the first chance of the half when Shervin Charles shot was pushed wide by Cleon John in the 47th minute. Man of the match Jason Marcano would count himself unlucky after he waltz pass two defenders but his shot was fisted away by Granger at his near post.
Jabloteh would get their first goal when the North East defence gave away the ball cheaply and Cornell Glen finished with authority in the 72nd minute, to make the score 1-0.
The rug would be pulled out from under North East eight minutes later when Jason Marcano headed home a Peltier cross to make the score 2-0 and seal the Grande based team faith. Try as they may North East could find no way back and sunk to another defeat.
Teams:
San Juan Jabloteh:[/b] - Cleon John, Dwayne Jack (Ataullah Guerra), Carlon Murray, Lester Peltier, Trent Noel, Khaleem Hyland (Gason Gregory), Elton John, Jason Marcano, Ian Gray, Devon Jamerson (Cornell Glen), Cyd Gray.
North East Stars: - Curtis Granger, Akeil Guevara (Iyiaka Okechukyu), Anthony Wolfe, John Stewart (Christian Okonwko), Kevin Jeffrey, Keston Pierre, Keryn Navarro, Kendall Velox, Marc Leslie, Shervin Charles, Sherwayne Morris.
Man of The Match: - Jason Marcano (San Juan Jabloteh).
