Connection achieve First Citizens Cup hat-trick

Andre Toussaint, voted most valuable player of the game was the thorn in the flesh of the Sangre Grande-based team, being both architect and scorer in the encounter that was watched by an appreciative and passionate crowd.

However, it was North East Stars that showed some flair early on, Howard Lowe sending the ball to Stokley Mason and his touch finding Kevin Jeffrey, whose header was off-target in the 7th minute.

Then Connection came close to scoring two minutes later, William Da Silva Oliveira sending his corner back towards the middle of the pitch, instead of looking for a floater across the goal, resulting in a powerful bullet from Ronaldo Viana that flew inches over the bar.

Oliveira then created a shot out of nothing, hitting the crossbar in the 17th minute to the dismay of Connection fans.

But Gally Cummings’ troops were not there just to sit back and relax; a cracking drive from Kern Thomas had to be parried away by Connection custodian Jan Michael Williams in the 20th minute.

There was another effort by North East Stars three minutes later when Mason sent one through to Jeffrey, but his shot from a difficult angle on the right was blocked once again by the Connection goalie.

As far as the Savonetta Boys were concerned, enough was enough, as they wanted to show the footballers from East Trinidad why they were favourites.

The men in green found the net on the half hour mark when a determined Hughton Hector made a run down the left flank, made a pass across the goal mouth for the speeding Toussaint to head in the opening item, bringing joy to coach Stuart Charles-Fevrier and company.

The insurance item came 12 minutes later when Toussaint dribbled his way inside the box, his flawless touch finding Oliveira who had the simple task of hitting the ball into the net—Connection leading 2-0.

North East Stars’ goalkeeper Shane Mattis was found wanting again in the 44th minute as a free-kick floated in by Oliveira was spilled, giving Hector the opportunity to pounce on the ball for a 3-0 W Connection lead.

The second half was comparatively slow, since the men from Grande were dealt heavy first-half blows, while the defending champs felt they could have eased their foot off the accelerator.

However, Kayode McKinnon had a never-say-die approach as he dribbled brilliantly inside the area, his pass across the goal finding the boot of Jeffrey to minus the lead in the 78th minute.

There was another scare for Connection in the 88th minute when a free-kick taken from outside by substitute Sean Mason landed in a manner that caused a scramble in the Connection box, before eventually being cleared out.

So too was the brilliant one-handed save by the Connection custodian Jan Michael Williams while taking a tumble to prevent McKinnon from finding the net in stoppage time.

The lifeline goal never came, but the men from the east could have held their heads up high for a spirited display, but the night belonged to W Connection, as they were the ones that deserved royal treatment—coming away with their third consecutive First Citizens Cup and their fourth title overall—and a grand prize of $50,000.00.

Teams

North East Stars: Shane Mattis; Charles Pollard (capt), Vernon Bailey, Akeno Morgan, Howard Lowe; Stokely Mason (Marc Leslie 51st), Kayode McKinnon, Walter Moore (John Stewart 51st), Kern Thomas (Sean Mason 56th), Jesse Martinez; Kevin Jeffrey.

Coach—Everald Cummings

W Connection: Jan-Michael Williams; Elijah Joseph (capt), Christopher Harvey, Brenton De Leon, Nickcolson Thomas; Christian Viveros, William Da Silva Oliveira, Hughton Hector (Gefferson Goulart 73rd), Ronaldo Viana (Andrei Pacheco 77th); Matthew Bartholomew (Earl Jean 87th), Andre Toussaint.

Coach—Stuart Charles Fervier

W CONNECTION NORTH EAST STARS

3 GOALS 1
4 YELLOW CARDS 1
0 RED CARDS 0
4 SHOTS ON TARGET 5
13 FOULS 16
3 CORNERS 5
5 OFFSIDES 2