Connection win Pro League opener.
By: Ian Prescott (Express).
Defence Force looked possibly their sharpest in three years, yet still suffered a comprehensive 4-1 loss to Vibe CT 105 W Connection in their T&T Pro League opener at the Hasely Crawford Stadium yesterday.
Defending champions Joe Public had a less impressive start to 2007, as they were held to a 2-2 draw by United Petrotrin in the late match of a double-header at the Larry Gomes Stadium in Malabar.
At the HC Stadium, a few hundred fans were on hand to witness a match which turned dramatically in the second period, after a 0-0 half-time scoreline. Earl Jean found the net twice and Brazilians Gefferson Goulart and Jose Luis Seabra once each to earn victory for the "Savonetta Boys".
Bevon Lewis grabbed Defence Force's consolation in injury time, rifling a bullet past national custodian Jan Michael Williams, following a solo run. It was not nearly enough to rob Connection of full points in their first match.
For all their enterprise, Defence Force had just a handful of chances in the first half. Midfielder Ronald Boyce should have done better for the "Army", but turned his shot overbar in the 21st minute, while Christian Baptiste also stung Williams' fingers with a rasping free kick seven minutes later.
In between those efforts, Ronaldo Viana missed a great chance for Connection to go ahead. He intercepted defender Devon Jordan's backward header, but could not beat goalie Kevin Graham.
Connection went ahead in the 55th, though, Jean scoring from the penalty spot after fellow striker Andre Toussaint was cut down by Boyce. That seemed to knock the stuffing out of Defence Force's defence, and their opponents capitalised.
Jean got his second in the 70th from a simple tap-in of a Goulart short pass into an empty net. Graham was caught out by a long punt from Douglas Da Costa-Connection's lastest Brazilian find at right back-which he forced onto the crossbar and unfortunately back into the paths of a bunch of Connection players bearing down on goal.
Goulart (83rd) and Seabra (87th) both tapped home from close range to round off Connection's scoring. Lewis then produced the goal of the match for Defence Force, but by then it was a case of too little, too late.
Tobago United lose again.
By: DR.
Tobago United failed yet again to gain their first League win, as the new season opened at Dwight Yorke Stadium, Bacolet. A well taken second half hat trick by Kendall Jagdeosingh proved to be their undoing.
The whipping boys of the Pro league showed early signs of their defensive frailties with some shambolic defending. It wasn’t long before Jerome was first to respond to a deflected ball in the box, leaving Adams in his wake to slot home past the goalkeeper. The nervy opening continued as the goalkeeper stepped out his box with the ball, offering Stars with a great opportunity in the “D”. James has to leave the field with a head wound. The resulting kick taken upon the resumption of play, by A. Wolfe went tamely over the bars.
The game finally settled in to an evenly contested period. Tobago United came close to scoring when McKenna shot straight at the keeper from the apex of the 6 yards box in the 24th minute. Soon afterwards, McKenna again forced a save by Phillips from just about the penalty spot. In the closing seconds of the half, a counter-attack in which United had numerical advantage came to naught as Woodley shot weakly from the edge of the box as the whistle sounded. 1 – 0 to Economy Northeast Stars. The game had become very open and held great promise for the second half.
The second half began as the first with Stars controlling the proceedings. One minute of “madness” by Adams – the United’s skipper turned the game on its head. Navarro made a forward pass to Jerome. Adams rushed in out of control as Jerome dummied the ball springing Jagdeosingh free through the heart of United’s defense to slam the ball high into the net. Immediately after the restart Adams rushed in with a reckless two footed tackle that referee Alleyne gave him his marching orders.
United responded by introducing P. Joseph as a replacement for Smith in an effort to reorganize the team. Stars withdrew Guevara and sent in Ramlogan on 70 minutes. Stars were now reveling in the extra space against a now discouraged United. Chances were coming fast and furious. Jagdeosingh picked up a ball on the left side, twisting, turning and speeding past seemingly stationary defenders. He cut back inside to fire high into the net again, this time with his right foot. 3 – 0.
Jaggy got his hat trick seven minutes from time. The full back Leslie dribbled down the right flank and sent his cross just beyond the far post to a free Velox who nodded it down for Jaggy to roll it past the keeper. Tobago United got their consolation item in the 86th minute. From a free kick in the “D”, the ball was played in to Woodley who laid it on for Manswell to curl his shot into the top corner well out of the reach of the Stars’ custodian.
Economy N.E. Stars:
Phillips, Leslie, Franklyn, G. Wolfe, Guevara (Ramlogan 59), Pierre, Velox, A. Wolfe, Navarro (Morgan 70), Jagdeosingh, Jerome (Okechukyu 68).
Subs Not Used: Thompson, Stewart, Charles.
Goals: Jerome 5, Jagdeosingh 56, 66, 83.
Att: 75.
Tobago United: Durrant, Thomas (Palmer 70), James (Samuel 16), Adams, Wiebers, T. Joseph, Smith (P. Joseph 59), Phillips, McKenna, Woodley, Manswell.
Subs Not Used: Alleyne, Burris.
Sent Off: Adams (57).
Goals: Manswell 87.
Young 'OilMen' hold Eastern Lions.
By: Gordon Pierre (ttproleague).
Defending League champions B Mobile Joe Public were held to a 2-2 draw by a young but determined United Petrotrin outfit in their first game of the 2007 season at the Larry Gomes Stadium on Saturday.
Playing in the second game of an opening day double header Joe Public was almost stunned in the second minute of play but Petrotrin’s Abiola Clarence’s header was brilliantly saved by Alejandro Figueroa in the goal for Joe Public.
After this early escape Public settled down and began to show the form of a true champion controlling the game. Their reluctance to shoot from distance though prevented them from translating this dominance in play to dominance on the scorecard.
All this would change in the 24th minute when newly signed Guyanese Gregory Richardson would score after a series of short passes in the box which left him with the simple task of tapping the ball pass Petrotrin’s goalkeeper Perry Martin and this he did with immaculate ease to give Joe Public a 1-0 lead.
Public continued to dominate the game and thought they had doubled their advantage three minutes later, when new signing Kerry Baptiste slot the ball into the back of the net, but the effort was ruled offside by the referee’s assistant.
This did not seem to bother the Public team as they launched attack after attack on the Petrotrin goal who to their credit did not break down, but with stood the barrage and mounted a few raids of their, own and it was on one of these raids Public and National defender Seon Power brought down Abiola Clarence at the edge of the 18 yard box. Up stepped Petrotrin’s playmaker and Man of the Match Keon Daniel to calmly curl the ball over the wall and into the back of the net to tie up the scores in the 43rd minute.
The score remained 1-1 to the half and all of the fans at Larry Gomes stadium were expecting a cracker of a second half.
The start of the second half lived up to the good crowd on hand expectations for a minute had not gone in the second half when Joe Public’s Seon Power capped a man in the midfield and ran at the heart of the United defence, but his long range effort went just wide.
New National Captain Gary Glasgow finally got his name on the scorecard when he turned in a right-sided corner from Kerry Baptiste in the 52nd minute to give Joe Public a 2-1 lead.
Joe Public seemed to become very comfortable with this lead and settled for maintaining ball possession, but were made to pay dearly for this in the 57th minute, Seon Power again committed a foul on top of the 18 yard box and this time Sylvester Teesdale headed the resulting freekick home to bring his team level for the second time in the match, 2-2 and game on. The expecting fireworks did not materialize, as both teams seemed unwilling to go on all out attack in search of a possible winner and they played very conservative football.
The flamboyant Arnold Dwarika came on in the 72nd minute for Gary Glasgow but not even the deadlocked maestro could find a winner and in the end the game finished in a tame draw.
Coach Brain Williams would be happy to have caged the Lions and come away with a point, but the new Joe Public coaching staff would be left ruing their teams missed chances.
Joe Public:
Alejandro Figueroa, Terrance Mc Allister, Anthony Noreiga, Carey Harris, Dale Saunder (capt), Gary Glasgow (Arnold Dwarika), Abassi Mc Pherson, Kerry Baptiste (Sean Cooper), Seon Power, Gregory Richardson, Dexter Thornhill.
Head Coach – Domingo Hernandez
United Petrotrin:
Perry Martin (capt), Larry Bacchus, Kevon Clement (Kariym Balthazar), Romauld Aguillera, Keon Daniel, Marlon Lewis (Akeem Parris), Sylvester Teesdale, Husani Thomas, Anthony Haynes, Abiola Clarence, Jerrol Forbes (Kelvin Hernandez).
Head Coach – Brian Williams
Man of the Match – Keon Daniel (Petrotrin)
Caledonia bury 10-man Jabloteh in season opener.
By: Randy Bando (ttproleague).
A scintillating opening performance by the Neal and Massy sponsored Caledonia AIA against local powerhouse CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh ended 3-0 in favor of the ‘Stallions’ in the first match of a double header at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar.
The Jamal Shabazz coached team savored the Pro League opening fixture against the ‘San Juan Kings’ scoring their three items before the end of the first period with Guyanese striker Nigel Codrington netting the opener in front of a heavy crowd of supporters.
Unfortunately for Jabloteh the afternoon started off on a bad foot when newly signed Antiguan striker Peter Byers 2nd minute goal was ruled offside. Buyers slammed the ball past goalkeeper Michael Woods and into the roof of the net from inside the area, but the assistant referee flag was up.
The game was played at a frantic pace and Caledonia was quick to respond 2 minutes later Nigel Codrington netted the opening goal. Veteran midfielder Marvin Oliver playing his first match for the ‘Stallions’ was the provider. Oliver’s through ball sent Codrington goal wards when the striker easily lofted the ball past goalkeeper Cleon John from on top of the area to put his team 1-0 up.
Caledonia continued to build as striker Dwight Peters made some blistering runs forward to the dislike of the shaky Jabloteh defence.
On the other end it was the flighty Jabloteh midfielder Jason Marcano who created room for himself in the 14th minute on top of the Caledonia area only to clip his effort wide of the far post.
By the quarter hour mark Caledonia made it two. In the 16th minute Codrington became provider when his flick-on sent Peters through a still standing Jabloteh backline, and he volleyed the ball past goalkeeper John for the 2-0 advantage in favor of Caledonia.
Dwight Peters was on the prowl again in the 21st minute when he broke into the Jabloteh area only to be denied a shot on goal at the edge of the six-yard area by big defender Ronald Primus.
It then turned from bad to worst for the Terry Fenwick, his Antiguan striker Peter Byers was sent off on the half hour mark receiving a straight red card for elbowing defender Charles Pollard
It was then double trouble for the 2007 Lucozade Sport Big Six Champions as Caledonia’s Marvin Oliver, Kareem Joseph and Stephan David used the Jabloteh loss to their advantage.
In the 32nd minute Kareem Joseph lost out on a golden opportunity at the far post when he tapped Leslie Holligan’s right sided cross wide.
One minute later Caledonia registered the ‘coffin nailer’ to wrap up their scoring in the first period. Stephan David from inside the area rifled the ball past goalkeeper Cleon John who was literally left out to dry by his defence as Caledonia took a 3-0 scoreline to the dressing rooms at the half.
On the resumption the miserable afternoon continued for the ‘San Juan Kings’ but fortunately for them they didn’t conceded any more goals.
A diving header by Caledonia’s Kareem Joseph spilled wide from a Dwight Peters cross ball in the 50th minute.
In the 61st minute Jabloteh’s World Cup midfielder Aurtis Whitley who wasn’t more than a shadow in the first period managed a goal mouth opportunity, but his effort smashed wide under the heavy challenge from Caledonia’s captain and inspirational defender Sheldon Emmanuel.
Jabloteh had another attempt in the 67th minute when midfielder Jason Marcano 22 yard effort rebounded off goalkeeper Woods’ chest before he gathered it safely.
The ‘San Juan Kings’ failed to capitalize on a rare free kick at the edge of the Caledonia area as defenders Pollard and Emmanuel made certain of a clean record at the back while man of the Match
Marvin Oliver and others terrorized the midfield.
Goal keeper Michael Woods had also done his part keeping a clean sheet for the ‘Stallions’ when he came up well to deny Marcano’s volley from outside his area in the 78th minute.
In the dying moments of the exciting encounter both Caledonia and Jabloteh squandered efforts. Goal scorer Nigel Codrington was beaten to the ball in side the Jabloteh area by goal keeper John after making a strong run and on the other end Jabloteh’s Cyd Gray headed over bar from close range as the match ended 3-0 in favor of the ‘Stallions’.
Neal & Massy Caledonia AIA:
Michael Woods, Sheldon Emmanuel (Capt.), Leslie Holligan, Walter Moore, Marvin Oliver, Charles Pollard, Dwight Peters (Devon Millington 71st), Nigel Codrington, Stephan David, Kareem Joseph (Shawn Bishop 85th), Hayden Tinto (Abdallah Phillips 71st).
Coach – Jamal Shabazz
CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh:
Cleon John, Cyd Gray (Capt.), Dwayne Jack, Trent Noel, Aurtis Whitley, Wendell Joseph, Elton John (Devon Jamerson 71st), Jason Marcano (Elijah Manners 80th), Peter Byers, Nigel Daniel, Ronald Primus (Marcelle Francois 69th).
Coach—Terry Fenwick
Match Referee—Neil Brizan
Man of the Match—Marvin Oliver (Caledonia)
Rangers hammer newcomers Police 4-1.
By: Vinod Narwani (ttproleague).
Superstar Rangers FC showed their dominance over TT Pro League debutants Police FC in their opening clash of the 2007 season at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port-of-Spain, on Saturday night.
The St. Ann’s based-club, playing in their second season at the top flight, had to overcome a minor obstacle in the form of a 1-0 lead by the Lawmen, before demolishing the newcomers with a combination of determination, experience and flair.
Rangers started off positively in front of an appreciative crowd by testing Police custodian Ryan Edwards in the 2nd minute of play.
Following an infringement just outside the box by the Lawmen, Rangers were awarded a free kick which star player Kerwin Jemmott hit straight at Edwards.
Even though the goalkeeper comfortably took it, it was a sign that the men in red and blue were going all out to make things difficult for Police.
Rangers skipper Errol Mc Farlene then tried to get his side on the score sheet by slotting a decent ball to Christon Thomas on the left in the 11th minute, only for Thomas to hit it tamely and off-target.
The fans were, however, given a surprise when the Lawmen drew first blood in the 18th minute courtesy Kenwin Matthew.
There was a solid build up which led to captain Neri Joseph distributing the ball to Curt Danclair on the left flank, his floating pass finding the head of Matthew for the opening item.
But Rangers hit back four minutes before the half-time whistle following a corner, resulting in Jemmott ballooning a teaser across the goal-mouth for Devon Modeste to head home the equalizer.
Rangers kept pressing for the lead and were rewarded for their efforts in the 53rd minute, Marc Borde slotting home after the ball was flicked to him, following a well-taken corner kick.
The night was not over for the St. Ann’s lads as was shown by their captain who had a major hand in the remaining two items to follow.
Mc Farlene banged a powerful header straight to the Police custodian, but his point blank save ricocheted towards hungry substitute Shem McFarlene who slammed home Rangers’ insurance item in the 76th minute. It was 3-1 at that stage.
The Rangers skipper then scored the goal of the night three minutes later to justify why he deserved the man-of-the-match award.
Standing inside the box, Mc Farlene received a ball and with the simplest of ease back-heeled a flick towards the far corner to the delight of everyone.
Not only was the keeper bemused, the players, officials and fans had lots to talk about after such a display by the men from St. Ann’s.
Superstar Rangers:
Marc Borde, Milton Correa Gomez, Kerwyn Jemmott, Lorne Joseph, Errol McFarlene (Arnold Ferguson), Devon Modeste, Jhony Ortiz (GK), Dean Pacheco, Todd Ryan, Christon Thomas (Shem McFarlene), Coneal Thomas.
Coach: Anthony Streete.
Police FC: Devon Bristol, Grayson Edwards, Christopher Sam (Noel Williams), Neri Joseph, Curt Danclair, Andre Lynch, Brendon Christopher, Sean McClashie, Kenwin Matthew (Kieon Wilson), Ryan Edwards, Terryl Elwin (Neil Marcano).
Coach: Michael Maurice.
Referee: Jaggernath Goolcharan
Man of the Match: Errol Mc Farlene (Superstar Rangers)
Yesterday's T&T Pro League scores:
Caledonia AIA 3 (Nigel Codrington 4, Dwight Peters 16, Stephen David 36) v San Juan Jabloteh 0.
Joe Public 2 (Gregory Richardson 23, Gary Glasgow 52) v United Petrotrin 2 (Keon Daniel 43, Sylvester Teesdale 57)
Defence Force 1 (Bevon Lewis 90) v W Connection 4 (Earl Jean 55, 70, Gefferson Goulart 83, Jose Luis Seabra 87)
Superstar Rangers 4 (Devon Modeste 41, Marc Borde 53, Shem Mc Farlene 76, Errol Mc Farlene 79) v Police FC 1 (Kenwin Matthew 18)
Tobago United 1 (Handell Manswell 85) v North East Stars 4 (Randolph Jerome 5, Kendall Jagdeosingh 56, 59, 87)
