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Police FC are after a fifth consecutive Pro League win on Tuesday when Richard Hood’s men tackle Morvant Caledonia United, the side that defeated the them 2-0 in the group stage of the 2018 First Citizens Cup last July.

The “Lawmen” did however top their group and progressed to the First Citizens Cup semi-finals, but were knocked out on penalties at that stage by eventual champions Central FC, who also needed kicks from the spot to beat Defence Force FC in the title match on July 20.

Morvant Caledonia had progressed too but were kayoed by Defence Force in the semi-final round.

A lot have changed since then, offering a fresh level of competition when Police and Morvant Caledonia lock horns for the first time in the 2018 league campaign from 8pm in the second game of a double-header at the Hasely Crawford Stadium. Terminix St. Ann’s Rangers will face Club Sando in the opening game at the Mucurapo Road venue from 6pm.

Morvant Caledonia United bolstered their roster in the August transfer window with a number of marquee signings including Trinidad and Tobago midfielder Keron Cummings, former W Connection and Toronto FC II winger Aikim Andrews, Jesus Perez, a former North East Stars and W Connection defensive midfielder, defender Maurice Ford, and 20-year-old Grenada international forward Saydrel Lewis.

Led by technical director Jamaal Shabazz and coached by Jerry Moe, the “Eastern Stallions” most recently held W Connection (0-0) and San Juan Jabloteh (1-1), the league leaders and second-positioned teams respectively, separated by a 3-0 win over Rangers to somewhat resurrect their campaign as they are positioned seventh with 6 points and a game in hand against North East Stars as the competitions nears the midway mark.

Police meanwhile are positioned fifth on the ladder with 12 points (one less than Defence Force and Central) and are boasting a rich vein of form with four straight wins: Point Fortin Civic (3-1), Rangers (3-0), Defence Force (3-2) and North East Stars (3-1).

Striker Kareem “Scooby” Freitas scored in each of those last four outings which saw a complete turnaround for coach Hood’s “Lawmen” after losing all three of their opening league fixtures.

Freitas, who most recently netted a first half brace and had an assist in last Saturday’s come-from-behind win over league holders North East Stars, has 8 league goals, one less than leading scorer, W Connection’s Marcus Joseph (9).

Joseph, who has 16 goals in all competitions this season, also scored a double on Saturday in a 3-1 win over his former employers Civic as Connection (19 points) stretched their lead at the top to five points ahead of Jabloteh (14 points).

Also on Tuesday, W Connection can further widen the gap, at least temporarily, to eight points when they take on San Juan Jabloteh from 6pm at Ato Boldon Stadium, followed by a repeat of the First Citizens Cup final, with Defence Force against Central FC from 8pm.

Further south, Point Fortin Civic and North East Stars -- two cellar-placed teams in still in search of their first league win this season -- will face each other from 7pm at Mahaica Oval.

Pro League 2018 - Round 1 Match Day 8 fixtures

(Tuesday 18 September)

Terminix St. Ann’s Rangers vs Club Sando, 6pm at Hasely Crawford Stadium;
Police FC vs Morvant Caledonia United, 8pm at Hasely Crawford Stadium;
W Connection vs San Juan Jabloteh, 6pm at Ato Boldon Stadium;
Defence Force FC vs Central FC, 8pm at Ato Boldon Stadium;
Point Fortin Civic vs North East Stars, 7pm at Mahaica Oval.

Pro League 2018 standings

# Team MP W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 W Connection 7 6 1 0 20 3 17 19
2 San Juan Jabloteh 7 4 2 1 8 4 4 14
3 Defence Force FC 7 4 1 2 21 9 12 13
4 Central FC 7 4 1 2 18 12 6 13
5 Police FC 7 4 0 3 14 12 2 12
6 Club Sando 7 3 1 3 9 10 -1 10
7 Morvant Caledonia Utd 6 1 3 2 10 10 0 6
8 Terminix St. Ann’s Rangers 7 2 0 5 3 26 -23 6
9 Point Fortin Civic 7 0 2 5 4 14 -10 2
10 North East Stars 6 0 1 5 6 13 -7 1