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29
Fri, Mar

Typography

It's not that Joe Public can't score goals, their struggle is keeping the ball out of their own net.

But, once Arnold Dwarika's beautiful side-volley hit the back of the net in the 12th minute of their T&T Pro League match against the Defence Force on Thursday night at the Marvin Lee Stadium in Macoya, the Eastern Lions were on the way to building a big enough first-half lead which even they could not lose.

Dwarika met Lyndon Andrews' cross sweetly and in his own unique fashion drilled the ball into the far corner, and Joe Public were off and running.

After half-hour, they had built a three-goal lead, before extending their advantage to 4-0 at the half.

Jamaican striker Roen Nelson struck twice, but also missed a few others. Add Dwarika's opener and another goal following defender Christopher Harvey's 50-metre run to goal and Joe Public were well in command at the interval.

Shane Calderon, a second half substitute, added a final goal in the 90th as Joe Public came away easy 5-0 winners.

But, you would hardly have thought so by the second half, when Defence Force finally began to play and put some pressure on the home team.

At the start, the Army-Coast Guard combination chanced moving regular central defender Anton Pierre to right back and consequently left the middle of their defence soft.

They also paid a price for playing too high up field. Joe Public's pacy Guyanese striker Gregory Richardson was first to find a way through the middle when collecting the ball near the half-line and heading to goal unimpeded. Challenged by goalkeeper Kevin Graham, Richardson squared the ball to strike partner Nelson, who rolled it into the open net in the 27th minute.

Three minutes later, Jamaican central defender Christopher Harvey was clear through Defence Force once he crossed the half-line and, after racing to goal, hit a low shot to give Joe Public a 3-0 lead.

Defence Force's only chance of the half came in the 22nd minute. Had Kevon Carter's first touch been better, he would have had a clear path to goal when coming from the right onto Jerwyn Baltazar's pass. Carter lost his chance with a poor touch, but swung in a dangerous cross towards Devon Jorslyn, only for Seon Power to get his head in the way.

It got even worse for the Defence Force when Nelson rode a tackle, skipped the keeper's challenge and scored in the 45th minute to put Joe Public up 4-0.

To their credit, Defence Force were intent on making a game of it in the second half and early on Joe Public's Colombian keeper Alejandro Figueroa was forced to make a double save from Carter and Jorslyn to keep the ball out.

But while Defence Force tried putting on the pressure, too many of their crosses were too close to the Joe Public goalie.

Meanwhile, Richardson worked overtime to add to Joe Public's lead, but was often isolated wide and his best effort hit the side netting. He also put a dangerous ball across the penalty box which missed Nelson's outstretched boot.

Finally, after missing his first good attempt, Calderon scored at the death with a powerful shot from the left.