Jason Boodram got both goals as Police rebounded from its FA Trophy quarterfinal loss to beat defending champions Queen’s Park Cricket Club 2-1 in their top-of-table Northern Football Association Premier Division clash on Monday night.
Playing on a slick surface at the St James Barracks Ground, Long Circular, both teams went at each other from the first blow of referee Ishmael Mohammed’s whistle.
And after having a goal ruled out for off-side early on, the Parkites took the lead slightly against the run of play through in-form Benedict Barrett in the 28th minute, an advantage which they took into the half.
On the resumption, Police stepped up the pressure and drew level in the 66th minute via Boodram who then put his team ahead in the 76th minute with a break away finish.
Queen’s Park was handed a lifeline when Mohammed issued a straight red card to Police midfielder Dwight Elliot who was quickly followed by team-mate Kheon Archie, for his second bookable offence.
However, despite having a two player advantage, Queen’s Park could not capitalise as the lawmen held on for the win, moving to 18 points, five more than Petit Valley United which edged St Francois Nationals 2-1 in another top-of-the-table encounter.
Gevon Seales put Petit Valley in front in the 38th but three minutes later Marvin Francis replied for St Francois, only for Akiric Awai to net an 83rd minute decider.
...Marshall treble keeps Carenage clear
Adrian Marshall scored a hat-trick for his fifth goals in two matches as Carenage United whipped Malvern 3-1 for its fifth straight win in the First Division on.
Marshall netted in the 42nd, 44th and 51st minute for the winners while Amiki Bibby-Bailey converted a consolation penalty for Malvern at New Ground, Queen’s Park Savannah.
With the win, Carenage kept its 100 per cent winning record intact for 15 points, two more than Cosmos Eagles which won by default from Paragon.
Saddle Hill Hot Spurs climbed to third with ten points after a 1-0 victory over the slumping Port Celtic thanks to Kevon Durham’s 24th minute item while Harvard crushed Morvant Elements 8-1.
Northern Football Association Results:
Saturday’s First Division
Saddle Hill Hot Spurs 1 (Kevon Durham 24th) vs Port Celtic 0
Carenage Utd 3 (Adrian Mitchell 42nd, 44th, 51st) vs Malvern 1 (Amiki Bibby-Bailey)
Harvard 8 (G. Felix 12th, 43rd, K. John 15th, 64th, J. Dowers 60th, 62nd, S. King 47th, K, Jomedi 67th) vs Morvant Elements 1 (Bashiri John 25th)
Cosmos Eagles 3 vs Paragon 0 - by default
Sunday’s Premier Division:
CMFA 1 (Jesse Meetoo 64th) vs Maple 1 (Akim Ashe 83rd)
FC1 3 (Kyron James 36th, Akil Thomas 37th, Raphael Crichlow 64th) vs RSSR 1 (Romario Joseph 13th)
Football Factory 4 (Rasheed Simon 2, Malik Gumbs, Jerome) vs New Millenium 0
Petit Valley 2 (Gevon Seales 38th, Akiric Awai 86th) vs St Francois Nationals 1 (Marvin Francis 41st)
Police 2 (Jason Boodram 66th, 83rd) vs QPCC 1 (Benedict Barrett 28th)
Current NFA standings:
Premier Division:
Teams P W D L F A Pts
Police 6 6 0 0 17 7 18
Petit Valley 6 4 1 1 12 6 13
QPCC 6 3 1 2 10 5 10
St Francois 6 2 3 1 11 9 9
CMFA 5 2 2 1 11 8 8
FC1 6 2 1 3 12 11 7
Maple 5 1 3 2 10 12 6
Football Factory 6 2 0 4 11 14 6
New Millenium 5 1 0 4 7 15 3
RSSR 6 0 1 5 7 20 1
First Division:
Teams P W D L F A Pts
Carenage 5 5 0 0 14 5 15
Cosmos Eagles 6 4 1 1 13 7 13
Saddle Hill 5 4 0 1 21 3 12
Port Celtic 6 3 1 2 12 5 10
Harvard 5 3 0 2 13 11 9
Warriors 5 2 0 3 5 7 6
Malvern 5 1 0 4 6 17 3
Paragon 4 0 0 4 2 12 0
Elements 5 0 0 5 4 25 0