North East Stars 1 - 1 W.Connection
Not a bad crowd for the first of two big games tonight. 2nd spot could change 3 times during the course of the evening.
The game wasn't bad with North East as usual defending deep and relying on fast breaks. To me (and I have to be careful because I am accused of being anti - Connection) the game hinged on two incidents in which the referee influenced the game. Around 27 minutes a strong tackle on a North East player saw him crash into a team mate, both pole axed on the ground. The spinning ball fell to another North East player and another strong tackle floored him too. I felt that both tackles were fouls (but not worthy of a yellow card). For some reason that I can't fathom, Daneil Cyrus strongly contested the foul and and out of nowhere, a melee occurred in which several players continued to chase down and push each other. The referee eventually calmed things with the help of a referees assistant and issued a yellow card to (I think) Cyrus and a North East player and, maybe a third to another Connection player.
Now, I like Cyrus, but I felt that his actions warranted a red card. Most of the crowd seemed to agree.
This is where the consistency of referees comes into question, because one week a red card is shown for foul language and the next a yellow for aggressive behavior. Two different sins, but which is the worse?
So North East patch themselves up and, against the run of play, Trevin Caesar scores a beautiful goal.
But Connection get right back on the attack. A long ball goes into the box and it appears (to me) that the Connection striker is fouled. But the ref plays the advantage and the Connection guy heads wide. Then the ref signals a penalty. Everyone in the crowd is nonplussed! There was definitely a foul inside the box, but the player still controlled the ball and had his attempt on target. Joevin Jones slotted away the penalty nicely.
The rest of the game was littered with Connection attacks. North East defended well (as usual) and had one or two chances themselves. A draw seemed a fair result, but those two decisions effected the game and it's a shame that top games like this are decided by the ref.
Point Fortin 0 - 2 Central F.C.
The crowd had more than doubled by the second game to around 500 with the SIS Tassa band setting the rhythm. Again, it was a case of one team (Point) sitting back and attacking on the break, while Central attacked from all angles. Central were forced to make three changes, with Guerra and Oliver suspended and Mitchell not recovered from the injury that saw him carried off after 10 minutes vs Connection last week. Benjamin came into left back position while Jamal Jack moved up to midfield alongside de Silva, with Winchester as an attacking midfielder.
Central were pushing for the opener, but Civic looked lively too. Central's first goal could have been cancelled out by the ref when Marshall raised his foot at head height to reach the ball. It fell to Jamal Jack to hit home.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152296835587095&set=o.478681882226491&type=2&theaterAs we saw last week, it appears that a first goal is a signal for Central to keep attacking and two minutes later, Winchester doubled the score.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152296843157095&set=o.478681882226491&type=2&theater Point Fortin scored a nice goal, which was ruled offside. I was at the other end of the pitch, so I can't say if the decision was just, but the referees assistant had his flag raised early. For me, the best moment of the first half was a superb 25 yard shot from (I think) Marcus Joseph. I was right behind the ball and it swerved towards the top corner away from Jan-Michael Williams. However, Williams showed great footwork and launched himself to get a hand to the ball. Great shot and great goalkeeping.
Second half was workmanlike for Central, who have learned how to hold onto a lead at last. For me, Yohance Marshall was Man of the Match with another solid performance in front of Stephen Hart, with Sean de Silva impressing in the middle. In the 93rd minute a Point Fortin player earned a second yellow after a clear two footed tackle, which seemed to anger the Point players and supporters, but I felt the decision was fair. Central are now 13 games unbeaten, and still haven't lost in 2014.
So, Connection's lead is down to 6 points, with Central 2 points clear of North East and 3 points ahead of Point Fortin. All four teams have 5 games left, many of which are against each other, or Army, who have 4 games in hand and sit 6 points behind Point Fortin.
Plenty of big games left this season, and I'm sure there will be more twists in the tale.
Who says the Pro League is boring???