Reigning FA Trophy champions and four-time winners DIRECTV W Connection will meet rivals Central FC in a repeat of last season’s final when the TTFA FA Trophy 2015 semi-final round gets underway on Sunday 15 March, 2015 at separate venues.
Central, defeated finalists in 2012-2013 and 2013-2014, will tackle seven-time finalists W Connection from 3:30 pm at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium, and simultaneously at the Larry Gomes Stadium, North East Stars, winners in 2003, and Play Whe San Juan Jabloteh, winners in 1998, 2005 & 2010-2011, will also meet for a place in the final on Sunday 22 March, 2015.
Both match-ups were determined at a random draw on Wednesday afternoon at the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) office at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain.
Connection, who defeat Central 6-5 on penalties following a thrilling 2-2 draw in the final last season, needed kicks from the penalty spot last Sunday to defeat lower league side St. Francois Nationals 5-3, following a goalless draw, to reach the semi-final round.
“Our players’ attitude wasn’t what it should have been today,” said Fevrier following the match against Northern Football Association (NFA) side St. Francois Nationals. “It could be because of the opponents but I don’t know for sure. We have been joggling around a lot of the players with all the football that we have but I think today the motivation wasn’t what it should have been. We are now just happy to progress to the semi-final [round] and hopefully we will more motivated then.”
Fevrier, who utilised a second string team against St. Francois admitted back then, that whoever his side is drawn to face in the semi-final round, the “Savonetta Boys” must improve.
“Whoever we meet we will definitely have to step up to get a better result because today our level wasn’t what I expected,” continued the Connection coach. “We didn’t have much problems defensively but offensively we were below what we normally play.”
Central FC – the current Digicel Pro League leaders standing five points ahead of second placed Connection – defeated three-time former winners Police FC 2-0 to secure a place in the semi-final round.
While Jabloteh and North East Stars were 3-2 winners over Super League champions Club Sando and Defence Force respectively in their quarterfinal round match-ups.
At the start of this season’s FA Trophy competition, Central FC star player and former FA Trophy winner with Jabloteh in 2010-2011 said, “It’s about time we (Central FC) [won] the FA Trophy. After being in the last two finals and finishing on the wrong end, I think it’s time we take the FA Trophy. We have the capacity and the edge to push harder and capture the crown.”
Central and Connection have already met a total of four times this season and Sunday's semi-final round of the FA Trophy will serve as a tie-breaker following 1 win, 2 draws and 1 loss recorded by both teams.
Semi Final Round
Sunday 15 March 2015
North East Stars vs San Juan Jabloteh—3:30 pm, Larry Gomes Stadium
Central FC vs W Connection—3:30 pm, Manny Ramjohn Stadium