Kendall Davis double hurts Petrotrin.
By: Joel Villafana.[/size]
A fantastic double strike by former National under 23 marksman Kendall Davis led the defending champions W Connection to a 3-0 win over United Petrotrin. The ‘Savonetta Boys’ off to a winning start in their title defence.
Connection settled down first and after squandering a few chances, they got the opening goal in the 43rd minute when Andre Toussaint chipped the ball from the right flank and found Davis free—the Petrotrin defence stood still, expecting an offside call, it never came and Davis settled himself and slotted the ball pass Perry Martin in goal for Petrotrin.
Connection took a 1-0 lead into the dressing rooms and on the resumption, they quickly doubled the lead when Davis picked up a loose clearance from some 35 yards out and cracked a beauty of a volley that beat Martin in goal for a 2-0 Connection lead.
Petrotrin picked up the pace for a brief moment with Ijana Mark engineering some good moves down the flank but the ‘oilmen’ were unable to convert.
And in the 76th minute W Connection skipper Earl Jean got his name on the score sheet, scoring Connection’s 3rd item on the night and putting the game beyond the ‘oilmen’. W Connection taking full points and are off to the perfect start this season—for the ‘Oilmen’ its back to the drawing board.
Teams:
W Connection—Jan Michael Williams, William Da Silva Oliveira, Elijah Joseph, Atiba Charles, Clyde Leon, Nickolson Thomas, Hughton Hector, Andrei Pacheco, Earl Jean, Kendall Davis and Andre Toussaint.
Subtitutes: (Michael Celestine, Devon Mitchell and Ronaldo Vianna)
United Petrotrin—Perry Martin, Kevon Clement, Romauld Aguillera, Dwane Ellis, Marlon Lewis, Anthony Rougier, Felix, Lee Haynes, Ijana Mark, Sylvester Tesedale.
Substitute: (Simeon Augustus, Jerol Forbes, Kelvin Modeste).
W Connection Satisfied.
Defending Champions Vibe CT 105 W Connection and New Kids on the block Superstar Rangers are celebrating their opening victories in the 2006 T&T Pro League in contrasting styles.
The W Connection camp is generally satisfied with their comprehensive 3-0 win over United Petrotrin. Technical Director Stuart Charles Fervier, told ttproleague.com, “It was a very good showing by the boys, we played some good football, and it’s a good start, but there are areas I would still like to see us sharpen up on.”
“I was happy to see us getting the ball behind the net, but our challenge now is consistency, that the only way we will win the league this year—we must perform on a consistent basis.
”Connection got a superb double from former National under 23 striker Kendall Davis and the other item from seasoned skipper Earl Jean.
The W Connection team looked a different outfit on paper—with their entire midfield taking on a local flavor—with young midfielders, Andrei Pacheco, Hughton Hector, Nicholson Thomas and Andre Toussaint—all players who have come through the youth ranks at the team. W Connection will next face Starworld Strikers at the Ato Boldon Stadium on Saturday 15 April.
Slick Connection whip Oil Squad.
By: Ian Prescott (Express).
Champions Vibe CT105 W. Connection began the 2006 T&T Pro League season in much the same way as they did last year by coming away with full points from their round one match with United Petrotrin on Saturday at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Balmain, Couva.
But it took some work to break down a stubborn Petrotrin defence which was marshalled by ex-Trinidad and Tobago midfielder Anthony Rougier.
Defending with almost the entire team in their own half at times, United Petrotrin held firm until the stroke of half-time when speedy Kendall Davis ghosted through their backline, before stroking a right-footer wide of Perry Martin and into the goal.
Martin, a recruit from Caledonia AIA, had been busy fending off W Connection earlier, but had no chance with Davis' strike.
Connection had put the ball in the net earlier, in the 24th minute, when striker Andre Toussaint looked to have done enough to bundle Earl Jean's pass over the Petrotrin goal line. But, in a controversial moment, the goal was not given by the match officials.
Among the spectators at the Couva stadium was T&T national coach, Dutchman Leo Beenhakker, who made an appearance, but apparently did not see anything worth keeping him there after half-time.
Beenhakker should have waited a while longer, though, as Davis produced a spectacular second goal in the 49th minute from just outside the penalty area , volleying home a poor clearance when the Petrotrin defence failed to deal with a corner kick.
Petrotrin only discarded their defensive shell after conceding the second goal and spent the next ten minutes camped in the W Connection half.
Ijanar Mark, a much-travelled striker who has played with Mucurapo Senior Comprehensive, San Juan Jabloteh and Tobago United, was the champs' main tormentor on the right flank.
Mark's teasing low cross created so much problems in the W Connection defence in the 55th minute that goalkeeper Jan Michael Williams momentarily injured himself trying to deal with it.
Eventually, though, Petrotrin's attacks ran out of steam and they were sunk by Connection captain Earl Jean, who left Martin with no chance when rifling a stunner from out side the penalty area.
Had Beenhakker still been there he might have been considering the option of converting the veteran St Lucian striker to one of his Soca Warriors.
After a weak punt from keeper Martin was intercepted in midfield, the ball was passed to Jean who turned atop the penalty area and struck a sizzler away from the keeper's dive and into the back of the net.
Petrotrin were well and truly cooked and were lucky not to concede a couple more. Andre Toussaint and substitute Devon Mitchell both came close but, regardless, W. Connection signalled they will be a force to reckon with again this season.
