De Silva, Grosvenor double-up to keep “Central Sharks” on top

While at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Point Fortin Civic, who must tackle Jabloteh from 8 pm on Friday at the Couva venue for the 2014 Toyota Classic crown, were celebrating a 4-1 win over cellar positioned St. Ann’s Rangers in their Round One Match Day Six encounter.

Jamille Boatswain, scorer of a semi-final hat-trick against WASA FC to help Civic reach the Toyota Classic Final, extended his scoring form with a double against Rangers, netting in the 22nd and 30th minutes, for the Reynold Carrington-coached Point Fortin club.

Forward Andre Alexis and defender Andre Ettienne also got on the score-sheet, scoring in the 23rd and 63rd minutes respectively, before Rangers got a consolation item in the 69th minute through Jared Bennett.

The result, however, Civic’s first maximum three points of the 2014-2015 DPL campaign, only improved their tally to four points in eight position, one point ahead of bottom of the table Rangers. But the southerners could celebrate their maiden trophy on Friday, in only their second season at the Pro League level, if they can extend a win against Jabloteh.

Central meanwhile, remained at the top of the DPL standings with an improved tally of 13 points, while defending champions DirecTV W Connection climbed two spots up the ladder into second with 10 points to their name.

Connection muscled out a 2-1 win over Defence Force in the second match contested at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, while Caledonia AIA and Police FC shared points in a 1-1 draw in the second match contested at the Ato Boldon Stadium.

Less than a minute into the contest, Connection forward Jerrel Britto sent a low strike inches wide of the far post and on the 10th minute Defence Force goalkeeper Andre Marchan pulled off a brilliant low save to deny forward Hashim Arcia.

Then on the 30th minute Arcia was denied by the upright after knocking down a Joevin Jones free-kick.

But a minute later Connection celebrated a 1-0 lead after an unlucky Marchan was wrong-sided by a deflected Jones free-kick following Curtis Gonzales foul on Mekeil Williams above the area.

Not long after, the 34th minute to be exact, Defence Force were celebrating the equaliser scored by an unlikely source, with ace forward Devorn Jorsling suspended on a red card.

Defender Glynn Franklyn the hero, when he buried, from close range, a Sean Narcis free-kick played in from the right for a 1-1 score.

Connection stormed again for the lead and in the 45th minute winger Neil Benjamin’s blast from the right crashed off the face of the crossbar.

But in the 51st minute Connection restored the lead, with a 2-1 score, when forward Jerrel Britto knocked in a Benjamin cross for what turned out the winner.

Not long after, the Defence Force’s rhythm posse arrived, and the sounds of the instruments definitely added to the soldiers’ tempo but finding that second equaliser never came.

In the earlier contest at the Port of Spain venue, Central found the back of the net with ease against Jabloteh’s early defensive approach.

Grosvenor, who was denied by the crossbar in the 12th minute, opened the “Central Sharks”’ account in the 20th minute.

The rising Central midfield talent latched onto a long clearance by goalkeeper Jan-Michael Williams, raced into the Jabloteh area, rounded goalkeeper Shane Mattis, then slotted into an open net for a 1-0 lead.

Things got worse for Jabloteh – undefeated in the 2014-2015 DPL prior to kick – later slipping three spots down the standings into fifth.

De Silva made it 2-0 in the 24th minute with a neat turn just inside the area before blasting past a stunned Mattis.

Then in the 30th minute De Silva registered his second for a 3-0 advantage when he lunged in to meet a Darren Mitchell pass, on a quick counterattack by Central, to hit past a hapless Mattis.

Mattis was beaten again in the 51st minute before he was replaced injured by Raheem Belgrave two minutes later.

Grosvenor, gifted with an open net from close up, made no mistake to complete his double and Central’s 4-0 score after forward Dwight Quintero had rounded Mattis just outside the six yard area before setting up his teammate.

Both goal-scorers were at it again in the 68th minute when De Silva’s deflected crack at goal forced Belgrave into a save and from the resulting corner whipped in by the same player, Grosvenor struck the side netting.

As for Jabloteh’s closest to a consolation item, which never came, Jevon Morris ambitiously struck inches wide from distance in the second half, which included goalkeeper Jan-Michael Williams dispossessing Johan Peltier at the goalmouth.

Round One Match Day Six Results

San Juan Jabloteh 0 vs Central FC 4 (Qian Grosvenor 20', 57', Sean de Silva 24', 30'), at the Hasely Crawford Stadium

Defence Force 1 (Glynn Franklyn 34') vs W Connection 2 (Alvin Jones 31', Jerrel Britto 51’), at the Hasely Crawford Stadium

St. Ann’s Rangers 1 (Jared Bennett 69’) vs Point Fortin Civic 4 (Jamille Boatswain 22’, 30’, Andre Alexis 23’, Andre Ettienne 63’), at the Ato Boldon Stadium

Caledonia AIA 1 (Nathan Lewis 57’) vs Police FC 1 (Todd Ryan 72’), at the Ato Boldon Stadium

Teams

San Juan Jabloteh—30. Shane Mattis (36. Raheem Belgrave 53rd), 13. Coneal Thomas (22. Calib Sturge 60th), 18. Jevon Morris, 4. Garth Thomas, 10. Kerry Baptiste (14. Shaquille Bertrand 53rd), 12. Brendon Boucaud, 6. Dario Holmes, 24. Adrian Reid, 17. Fabian Reid, 23. Brendon Figuera, 9. Johan Peltier

Unused substitutes—11. Bryan Bayliss, 19. Dillon Kirton, 15. Duran Dilworth, 7. Andell Noray

Coach—Keith Jeffrey

Central FC—21. Jan-Michael Williams, 5. Akeem Benjamin, 11. Darren Mitchel (19. Nathaniel Garcia 60th), 99. Dwight Quintero, 28. Miguel Romeo (7. Jason Marcano 66th), 9. Qian Grosvenor (14. Jean-Luc Rochford 77th), 15. Kaydion Gabriel, 17. Marcelle Francois, 10. Marvin Oliver, 3. Keion Goodridge, 8. Sean de Silva

Unused substitutes—30. Akel Clarke (GK), 23. Denzil Daniel, 20. Nicholas Dillon, 13. Seon Thomas

Coach—Zoran Vranes

Teams

Defence Force—28. Andre Marchan, 2. Glynn Franklyn, 4. Dave Long, 8. Curtis Gonzales (Yellow Card), 12. Jemel Sebro, 17. Ross Russell Jr.  (11. Akeem Roach 68th), 18. Sean Narcis (10. Josimar Belgrave 66th), 21. Aklie Edwards, 22. Jamali Garcia, 26. Richard Roy (16. Kellon Serrette 74th) 99. Jerwyn Balthazar

Unused substitutes—3. Keston Williams, 7. Balondemu Julius, 23. Kerry Joseph, 25. Sheldon Clarke (GK)

Coach—Ross Russell

W Connection—18. Julani Archibald, 2. Kurt Frederick, 3. Gerard Williams, 5. Mekeil Williams, 11. Tremain Shayn Paul, 12. Jerrel Britto (30. Aaquil Campbell 83rd), 14. Hashim Arcia, 29. Akeem Garcia (13. Devaughn Elliot 58th), 35. Martieon Watson, 39. Alvin Jones, 65. Neil Benjamin Jr. (16. Anselm Jackson 77th)

Unused substitutes—10. Yefer Steven Lozano, 22. Aquelius Sylvester, 34. Jabari Mitchell, 36. Triston Hodge

Coach—Stuart Charles Fevrier