Midfielder Jerwyn Balthazar returned to his side Defence Force in magnificent form netting a double in Saturday's 4-0 win over bottom of the table FC SouthEnd at the Ato Boldon Stadium.
The win halted coach Ross Russell's side winless streak of three games, extending the 2010-2011 Digicel Pro League Championship front-runners gap to seven points.
Leading target-man Devon Jorsling took his League tally to 15 goals, also netting a double for the Soldiers in the Round Two Match Day Five outing.
Defence Force is followed by Caledonia AIA (27 points) in second and W Connection (25 points) in third.
Connection playing in the earlier clash of the Ato Boldon double header on Saturday, trashed ninth position Police FC 5-0 to jump two places up from fifth.
Balthazar's both items were fine strikes from distance scoring on either side of the half.
The Defence Force midfielder returning from a military course (three months abscence) opened the scoring with a magnificent volley from distance clipping the upright before landing in the back of the net with no chance for goalkeeper Aquelius Sylvester for a 1-0 advantage.
Balthazar later wrapped up the 4-0 victory in the 97th minute with a powerful shot from the angle on the right beating substitute goalie Terrance Lewis into the far netting.
Balthazar's pair of goals where separated by striker Jorsling's double with each piece also coming on either side of the half and against goalkeepers Sylvester and Lewis.
Jorsling got his first in the 33rd minute heading low past Sylvester from above the six yard area after being picked out by a perfect cross from Kerry Joseph who was allowed time and space on the right after his initial attempt was blocked out.
Jorsling later defeated substitute goalie Lewis after pouncing on errant passes between defenders Aubrey David and Anderson Morrison inside the penalty area to slip in the Soldiers third item on the stroke of 90.
Lewis had earlier replaced Sylvester, after the SouthEnd number one collided with Defence Force defender Rawyle Fletcher in the 73rd minute. Fletcher was also replaced following the collision.
SouthEnd, playing a quick styled game seemed a bit too quick for the southerners own comfort on most occasions.
Most attempted buildups by the southerners were broken down by their own hurried approach.
Three minutes into the match Sylvester had to pull off a magnificent save tipping out Jerwyn Balthazar’s crack on goal.
SouthEnd’s Joshua Bachan then tried his luck in the 6th minute but spilled wide from above the area.
In the 17th minute Jorsling dragged a shot wide in a decent buildup by the Soldiers when Ross Russell Jr. played him goal-bound inside the area.
Seven minutes inside the second period Defence Force goalkeeper Kevin Graham pulled off a brilliant one handed save to keep out a flicked on header by Jesse Stewart.
And in the 65th minute on the other end Russell Jr. wasted an opportunity when he drove a shot directly at Sylvester from close range.
Former UTT player Stewart then forced another save from Graham in the 84th however his side went on to crumble to a 4-0 defeat against the League leaders.
FC SouthEnd 0—4 Defence Force
; Jerwyn Balthazar 21’, 90’+7, Devorn Jorsling 33’, 90’
Teams
FC SouthEnd—Aquelius Sylvester (Terrance Lewis 73rd), Aubrey David (capt.), Dexter Alleyne, Larry Bacchus (Tyler Scipio 85th), Eddison Smart, Jerron Quashie, Anderson Morrison, Kelvin Modeste, Joshua Bachan (Adi Constant 76th), Jesse Stewart, Oswin Williams.
Coach—Anthony Rougier.
Defence Force—Kevin Graham, Corey Rivers (capt.), Kerry Joseph (Javon Neptune 64th), Rawle Fletcher (Rondell Elcock 72nd), Devin Jordan, Kurt Williams, Devon Jorsling, Jerwyn Balthazar, Sean Narcis (80th), Aklie Edwards, Ross Russell Jr.
Coach—Ross Russell.
Connection whips Police 5-0, jumps 3rd.
Utility player Andrei Pacheco scored twice on Saturday at the Ato Boldon Stadium as W Connection disarmed ninth positioned Police FC 5-0 in the first clash of a Round Two Match Day Five double header at the central venue.
The victory pumped Connection two spots up the standings with 25 points into third, ahead of defending Digicel Pro League champs bmobile Joe Public (fourth) by a better goals difference.
Also on the scoresheet for the Couva based club were Silvio Spann, Kern Cupid and teenaged forward Shahdon Winchester who also assisted in Pacheco’s second item.
Ahead of the Stuart Charles Fevrier coached side is second positioned Caledonia AIA (27 points) and leaders Defence Force (34 points).
Defence Force played in the second clash of the Ato Boldon Stadium and enjoyed a comfortable 4-0 win over bottom of the table FC SouthEnd with midfielder Jerwyn Balthazar and striker Devon Jorsling both finding the back of the net twice.
In the earlier clash Pacheco fired Connection ahead in the 35th minute when he controlled a pass above the six yard area before slipping a low left-footed show past goalkeeper Anthony Marshall for a 1-0 score.
Two minutes later Connection doubled its advantage 2-0 when Silvio Spann was clear at the back post to head in from Hughtun Hector’s corner from the left.
Connection pressed again in the 39th minute but this time Pacheco, again on his left boot, spilled just wide of the upright.
And in the 41st minute Hashim Arcia spilled wide after Hector intercepted a bad pass in defence by Police, as Connection enjoyed first half dominance.
Four minutes into the second period Spann unleashed a low freekick through the wall from 24 yards out towards goal, but the effort was measured brilliantly by a fine gather by goalkeeper Marshall.
Police then managed a couple efforts through Randy Britto who struck the side netting in the 54th and a 59th minute Keron Clarke free-kick which was just high.
But in the 62nd minute Connection added another goal, turning the score-line 3-0, when Kern Cupid managed a shot from the right of the penalty area under pressure Kyle Andrews which left goalkeeper Marshall beaten at the far corner.
Marshall was made to pull off a number of saves near the end but could keep out all that Connection offered.
Connection’s Winchester who replaced Hashim Arcia at the hour mark showed his confidence in the 75th minute patiently holding up the ball between a swarm of Policemen inside the area near the goal-line before knocking it towards the top of the area for Pacheco to punish Marshall with a blast for a 4-0 score.
Six minutes from time Winchester put the cap on the bottle for a 5-0 win when he showed his fine touch before slipping his shot past Marshall.
Late substitute Keron Cummings then smashed a shot over from above the area with the goal and Marshall at his mercy.
Police FC 0—5 W Connection
; Andrei Pacheco 35’, 75’ Silvio Spann 37’, Kern Cupid 62’, Shahdon Winchester 84’
Teams
Police FC—Anthony Marshall, Noel Williams (capt.) (Yellow), Kyle Andrews (Kheon Archie 78th), Jerome Smith (Adrian Noel 67th), Sayid Freitas, Todd Ryan, Keron Clarke, Neil Marcano (Yellow), Randy Britto (Kaaron Foster 32nd), Keon Quow, Jason James.
Coach—Kelvin Jones.
W Connection—Miguel Lloyd, Elijah Joseph (capt.), Kern Cupid, Clyde Leon (Christian Viveros 77th), Romauld Aguillera, Hashim Arcia (Shahdon Winchester 61st), Kemuel Rivers, Silvio Spann (Keron Cummings 80th), Hughtun Hector, Andrei Pacheco, Akeem Benjamin.
Coach—Stuart Charles Fevrier.