North East Stars had a number of second half opportunities in which to stampede bottom of the table St. Ann's Rangers on Saturday afternoon at the Larry Gomes Stadium, but only walked away 1-0 winners.
Trevin Caesar headed the Stars in front 1-0 by the 36th minute after meeting newcomer and strike partner Lemuel Lyons' cross. And after trying their hearts out, the Stars just couldn’t to find the back of the net again for the remainder of their 2013-2014 Digicel Pro League Round One Match Day Nine contest.
Lyons, one of three signings – Cummings and Sullivan the others – already made by Eve during the December/January transfer window, joined the Stars from San Juan Jabloteh, and had a good opportunity in the 66th minute.
However the 27 year old Lyons, who troubled the Rangers backline during his time on the pitch, struck his attempt directly at goalkeeper Terrence Lewis after being set free behind the defence.
Earlier Caesar executed a decent strike from above the area six minutes inside the second half, but it took a deflection off Rangers defender Rickyl Morris and flew overbar as Rangers survived another.
The speedy Tobagonian forward popped up again in the 54th minute inside the area to meet debutant Sullivan's cross and was denied by the legs of goalkeeper goalkeeper Lewis.
And the worst of them all, two minutes later, Stars defender Aquil Selby directed a shot wide of a vacant goal from within the six yard area as the miserable finishing continued.
The disappointing strike came after Lewis was beaten by a cross from former teammate Cummings, which was headed back across into the six yard area.
Stars head coach Angus Eve threw in Jamaican midfielder Keithy Simpson and veteran Akeil Guevara, replacing Jeromie Williams and Caesar a minute apart in the 82nd and 83rd minute, but that too didn’t help the cause.
Simpson was denied low by Lewis only seconds after entering the pitch, and soon after Caesar shaved the side netting before making his exit.
Cummings then tried an audacious chip over goalkeeper Lewis, only to see it dip onto the base of the far upright, and the follow up effort by Simpson deflected wide by the Rangers defence.
Rangers made the trip to Malabar with just one substitute in goalkeeper Akel Clarke, and clearly avoided huge embarrassment despite conceding their seventh league defeat in eight matches.
Even in the 90th minute an excellent opportunity was wasted into the side netting by Cummings.
However the result saw the Angus Eve coached Sangre Grande club climb three spots up the ladder, into third, joining second positioned Police FC and fourth positioned defending Digicel Pro League champions Defence Force with 13 points each.
A healthier result, however, would have landed the Stars in second position, but still a very long way behind leaders DIRECTV W Connection, seven ahead with 20 points.
On Sunday sixth positioned Central FC will attempt to make upward movement, but must overcome a very tricky eight positioned San Juan Jabloteh – the former club of the “Sharks” head coach Terry Fenwick and new signing Ataulla Guerra.
Central and Jabloteh will do battle from 5 pm at the Hasely Crawford Stadium to wrap up the first round of the league.
Results
North East Stars 1 - 0 St. Ann's Rangers
Trevin Caesar 36'
Teams
North East Stars—22. Cleon John (C), 20. Trevin Caesar (9. Akeil Guevara 83rd), 5. Aquil Selby, 6. Jeromie Williams (4. Keithy Simpson 82nd), 19. Glenton Wolfe, 8. Kerron Cummings, 23. Kennedy Hinkson, 25. Keryn Navarro, 11. Lemuel Lyons (12. Jayson Joseph 72nd), 15. Chike Sullivan, 18. Kaashif Thomas
Unused substitutes—1. Stephan Berkeley (G), 16. Neil Mitchell, 47. Anthony Diaz, 41. Neveal Hackshaw
Coach—Angus Eve
St. Ann’s Rangers—25. Terrence Lewis (C), 4. Jelani Peters, 6.Kareem Davidson, 12. Tevin Gilkes, 14. Michael Yaw Darko, 5. Duran Dilworth, 16. Kennedy Isles, 13. Caleb Sturge (Yellow Card), 21. Jair Edwards, 26. Josh Toussaint, 30. Rickyl Morris
Unused substitutes—1. Akel Clarke (GK)
Coach—Gilbert Bateau