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Baptiste scores again as Jabloteh extend unbeaten run

Marvin Lee Stadium, MACOYA – Jerrel Britto scored in the first half as defending champions DIRECTV W Connection later celebrated a narrow 1-0 Digicel Pro League win over North East Stars at the Marvin Lee Stadium on Tuesday night, pushing the “Savonetta Boys” within three points of leaders Central FC.



Britto, with a measured header in the 31st minute off a Kurt Frederick cross, defeated the glove of goalkeeper Cleon John, with the ball hitting the underside of the crossbar before bouncing into the net for a 1-0 Connection lead.

But with Central (7-2-1, 23 points) set to tackle seventh placed Caledonia AIA from 6 pm on Wednesday 28 January at the Ato Boldon Stadium, second placed Connection (6-2-2, 20 points) could see their rivals stretch the lead again.

North East Stars continues to occupy third place, tied on 17 points with fourth placed Defence Force, while Play Whe San Juan Jabloteh occupies fifth place—improved to 16 points.

Jabloteh – also in action on Tuesday – defeated Point Fortin Civic 2-1 at the Mahaica Oval to enjoy a three-match undefeated stretch in the DPL.

Kerry Baptiste opened the scoring for Jabloteh in the 3rd minute, to now lead the DPL scorers’ list with 7 goals this season, but Civic levelled the score in the 17th minute through midfielder Andre Toussaint before Jamaican Adrian Reid snatched the San Juan winner in the 83rd minute.

Police – now two spots up the ladder into 6th with 14 points – meanwhile, needed two penalties converted by captain Todd Ryan in the 61st and 80th minutes to overcome cellar placed St. Ann’s Rangers 2-1 at the St. James Barracks.

Sedale Mc Lean scored first, giving Rangers the lead in the 29th minute, however the St. Ann’s club was unable to avoid a tenth DPL defeat this season.

In Macoya, Britto, who was denied in the 5th minute and struck over bar in the 18th minute, was inches too high of a second goal in the 32nd minute of the Round Two Match Day Three clash.

But although Connection enjoyed control of the first half, which included two early tries from North East Stars attacker Kennedy Hinkson, Connection failed to find the back of the net again following Britto’s valuable 31st minute item.

John, who had trouble dealing with an Alvin Jones free kick in the 18th minute, was tested again by the Connection right-back in the 38th minute. John failed to grip the strike but was lucky to see his defence clear the ball to safety.

Within the same minute Connection’s Colombian midfielder Stiven Lopez Concha sent a curling strike towards goal from the edge of the area but John measured it with a save.

In the second half Connection forward Hashim Arcia, who had poked wide of goal in the 42nd minute, rattled the cross bar from distance in the 76th minute. And in stoppage time goalkeeper John pulled off two excellent saves to deny Connection substitutes Akeem Garcia and Devaughn Elliot.

John first gloved Garcia's attempt onto the cross bar and in a continued play from the rebound, the North East Stars goalie was at stretch again, pushing out Elliot’s strike as Connection failed to improve the score line.

Connection, with less than a day to recover, must tackle National Super League outfit Real Maracas in the preliminary round of the FA Trophy competition from 8 pm at the Ato Boldon Stadium on Wednesday 28 January, two hours after Caledonia AIA and Central FC wrap of Round Two Match Day Three of the DPL at the same venue.

Connection – four-time winners and defending FA Trophy champions – were drawn in the 12-team preliminary round along with fellow Pro League clubs Defence Force and Point Fortin Civic.

Defence Force will take on Queens Park Cricket Club (QPCC) FC from 6:30 pm at the Dibe Recreation Ground in Long Circular while Civic got free passage into the FA Trophy second round after a pull-out by Central FA side Harlem Strikers.

Round Two Match Day Three Results

Point Fortin Civic 1 (Andre Toussaint 17') vs San Juan Jabloteh 2 (Kerry Baptiste 3', Adrian Reid 83')

Police FC 2 (Todd Ryan 61' pen, 80' pen) vs St. Ann's Rangers 1 (Sedale Mc Lean 29')

North East Stars 0 vs W Connection 1 (Jerrel Britto 31')

Teams

North East Stars: 22.Cleon John (C); 4.Keithy Simpson, 5.Aquil Selby, 6.Jeromie Williams (41.Neveal Hackshaw 46th), 8.Adrian Noel (10.Keron Cummings 56th), 23.Kennedy Hinkson, 12.Jason Joseph, 15.Glenton Wolfe, 18.Kaashif Thomas (7.Russell Alfred 56th), 25.Keryn Navarro, 44.Keon Joseph

Unused substitutes: 1.Stefan Berkeley (GK), 3.Kareem Richardson, 38.Jesus Perez, 40.Jomoul Francois

Coach: Angus Eve

W Connection: 18.Julani Archibald; 3.Gerard Williams, 5.Mekeil Williams (C), 12.Jerrel Britto, 48.Stiven Lopez Concha (13.Devaughn Elliot 81st minute), 14.Hashim Arcia, 20.Christian Rodriquez (35.Martieon Watson 68th), 39.Alvin Jones, 40.Jomal Williams (29.Akeem Garcia 68th), 2.Kurt Frederick, 26.Maurice Ford

Unused substitutes: 22.Aquelius Sylvester (GK), 30.Aaquil Campbell, 36.Triston Hodge, 43.Shirvone St. Prix

Coach: Stuart Charles-Fevrier