...Connection, Jabloteh close in
Public waver
Lasana Liburd
Monday, November 20th 2006
Action in Saturday's Lucozade Sport Big Six showdown between Joe Public and CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva.
It might not quite be time to sound the alarm bells at Joe Public's Macoya headquarters-but just wait another 24 hours.
Third-placed CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh checked Public's advance to the 2006 Pro League crown with a 1-0 Lucozade Sport Big Six win at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva on Saturday evening.
Jabloteh are now three points behind Public and two behind second-placed Vibe CT 105 W Connection who edged Superstar Rangers by a similar 1-0 score at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar, on Saturday.
Connection, the defending champions, can go on top today when they face North East Stars from 6 p.m. in Malabar. North East Stars fell 1-0 to Caledonia AIA after a superb overhead kick by substitute Hayden Tinto in Saturday's other fixture, which was also staged at the Ato Boldon ground.
Public can regain their lead when they tackle Superstar Rangers at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella on Saturday but the title race is taking a toll on coach Michael McComie's outfit.
In his first Pro League season as coach, McComie breezed through his early tests but is finding the end game more difficult.
On Saturday, Public lost their second successive outing and are joint bottom of the Big Six standings with Rangers. They did win their last two fixtures in the regular season but those were against United Petrotrin and Starworld Strikers.
One has to go as far back as August 22 for Public's last league victory against one of the country's top six clubs. Then, Public defeated Caledonia AIA 1-0 at the Larry Gomes Stadium-Caledonia returned the favour on October 20 in the Toyota Classic Cup.
The Eastern Lions will not have McComie on the bench at Marabella either as the ex-national goalkeeper was dismissed from the sidelines for dissent on Saturday night.
The impact of his red card might be negligible if the 34-year-old coach is allowed to enter the Public dressing room on Saturday and direct the bench from the close proximity of the stands. But it did suggest that the strain of holding off the club's persistent challengers could be taking its toll.
McComie's decision to omit two of his most senior players, Gary Glasgow and Lyndon Andrews, from the starting line up as well as replace the talismanic Arnold Dwarika at halftime did not bode well.
Whether the shuffle in personnel was down to faltering form or merely a tweak in tactics, surely Public would prefer their best players to be leading the title chase. The cracks are starting to show.
Jabloteh took full advantage.
The match was barely three minutes old when stand-in captain Cyd Gray put the Bourg Mulatresse outfit ahead with a header off Kerry Baptiste's right side corner kick.
Jabloteh could have doubled their lead at the half hour mark as Jason Marcano slipped past promising Public defender Seon Power but his misplaced pass forced striker Peter Prosper to check his run rather than burst into the opposing area and the chance was lost.
There was one glimpse at goal for Public's Jamaican forward Roen Nelson but the league's top scorer hit only air from inside the Jabloteh area. Dwarika rarely got within sight of the opposing goal and was booked for an uncharacteristic swipe at Jabloteh midfielder Trent Noel while Public left winger Jorge Da Silva, who was often mistaken for the ball by his opponents, was cautioned for diving in the 23rd minute.
Jabloteh were not playing particularly well but they were stopping Public from taking charge-a feat that was made easier by the uneven and unsightly condition of the ground.
McComie responded with a triple substitution at the interval as Dwarika, Sean Cooper and Da Silva were replaced by Glasgow, Andrews and teenager Silas Spann. Glasgow joined Nelson and Kendell Davis up front as Public took a more adventurous approach.
Glasgow and Wolry Wolfe went close for Public although Jabloteh flanker Akiel Guevara should have done better than tap the outside of the post following a clever threaded pass by Noel.
McComie lost the right to sit on the bench, soon after, for a word out of turn as Public tried in vain to overturn the deficit. He would need a more measured response against Rangers on Saturday.
Saturday's Results:
- Jabloteh 1 (Cyd Gray), Public 0
- Caledonia 1 (Hayden Tinto), NE Stars 0
- Connection 1 (Earl Jean), Rangers 0
Pro League Standings
(Top four clubs)
- Joe Public 59 points
- W Connection 58 points
- San Juan Jabloteh 56 points
- Caledonia AIA 50 points
