Defence Force thwart Tobago uprising.
By: Lasana Liburd (Express).[/size]
At almost 1900 hours on Saturday, with just three minutes remaining in the Pro League fixture, the order of things looked set to be shattered at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva.
The Defence Force had fallen 2-1 behind to a Tobago militia who looked intent on interfering with the 2007 Pro League title race. It was a time for astute leadership and the composed execution of duties under pressure.
The final score at Couva read 3-2 in favour of Defence Force.
Collie Hercules, the Tobago United and Guyana striker, shook his head in disbelief at the final whistle. His skilful solo effort in the 87th minute looked a worthy match winner. Instead, it was relegated to the rank of consolation item.
Tough luck? Not according to Defence Force coach and former Trinidad and Tobago international standout Kerry Jamerson.
"We are professionals even before we go on to the field," said Jamerson. "We have that mental edge and discipline over the other teams... We work very hard as a team."
A discussion about football with the ex-"Strike Squad" star is garnished liberally with words like "hard work", "consistency" and "mental strength". There was evidence of all three characteristics yesterday as Defence Force shook off a substandard performance to close in on the Pro League leadership.
"We didn't play to our high standards," said Jamerson. "We took Tobago for granted."
If the game ended as a tribute to the grit and defiance of the nation's soldiers, it certainly did not start in that vein.
The fact that Tobago United traveled with just 13 players should be a matter of concern for the Pro League executive as they attempt to build the reputation of the fledgling competition.
But spare a thought too to the host team, Defence Force, who had gathered just five ball boys at kick off-the Pro League recommends eight- and two were the sons of match referee Ishmael Mohammed.
The poor preparation from either camp added to a paltry crowd-both teams, after all, were playing far from their home base-meant a muted atmosphere for the weekend fixture.
Not that Jamerson would have minded too much as his troops went ahead in the 14th minute. Diminutive Scottish goalkeeper James Baird, as intimidating as a teddy bear, flapped at the ball after an Anton Joseph corner kick and offered Defence Force striker Devon Jorsling an easy conversion.
The "Teteron Boys" pressed forward but it was not an orderly charge and Tobago stunned the title hopefuls with an equaliser on the stroke of halftime. Garth Woodley grabbed his first goal of the season with an emphatic finish after George Dublin's cross on the break.
The pattern continued in the second half with the soldiers pouring forward but leaving themselves vulnerable to the guile of Hercules at the back. And the stout striker thought he had helped Tobago to three points in the 87th minute when he stepped inside his marker to blast into the far corner after a perceptive diagonal pass from Kevin Adams.
By then, Sargeant Jamerson had sent on his sharp shooter, Phillips, with instructions to quell the rebellion.
"There are horses for certain courses," said Jamerson. "He is very experienced and, when it is down to crunch time, I know I can use him."
Striker Richard Roy brought Defence Force level in the 89th minute as he cut inside his marker and beat Baird with a left footed strike at his near post for his eight goal this season.
Seconds later, Phillips crushed Tobago's spirits with a firm header from a Joseph cross that again exposed their visitor's frailty in the air. It was Phillips' third item this year. All three were match winners and two came in the 90th minute-he also saw off Superstar Rangers in a last gasp 2-1 triumph on August 11.
Rangers, incidentally, had just completed a 4-0 mauling of Jabloteh that brought Jamerson's men closer to glory.
As a player, he has a remarkable eight domestic league titles between 1989 and 1999, while his match-winning strikes home and away to El Salvador in the 1990 World Cup qualifying campaign rank among the country's most famous goals.
He is not ready to give up on his glory days just yet but his 19-year-old son, Devon Jamerson, might have something to say about that.
Devon is the first choice right back at Jabloteh and one of an array of young talent at the San Juan club that are anxious to make their mark on the local football circuit. Saturday belonged to daddy, though.
Meanwhile, The Sangre Grande Regional Corporation might want to look into a recent development at its sports ground.
Unknown to the local town council and the 2007 Pro League, it seems that there is a persistent attempt to change the name of the home venue of the Economy North East Stars. It used to be called the Sangre Grande Recreational Ground. Perhaps the "Sangre Grande Scoreless Stadium" is more appropriate.
It is seven weeks since Stars' supporters have seen a goal in Sangre Grande and they were made to endure another scoreless Sunday yesterday as the hosts were held goalless by south-based outfit, Vibe CT 105 W. Connection.
From seven league matches this season, the Recreational Ground has yielded nine goals but five of those items came from one match-they edged Police 3-2 on July 1. That exception apart, the ground averages almost a goal every other match. And Sangre Grande fans are waiting patiently for that other match.
Even including away games, the Stars' tally of 22 goals from 21 outings is the lowest in the League-one less than bottom placed Tobago United, who have a game in hand.
There were consolations for Stars owner Darryl Mahabir, of course. A point against three-time professional champs Connection is normally nothing to scoff at while it is worth pointing out that Stars were without their frontline strike pair of Guyanese international Randolph Jerome and Trinidad and Tobago under-23 player Kendall Jagdeosingh.
The Stars are also undefeated in their last six home matches, which include fixtures against defending champions Joe Public, present leaders CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh and title contenders, Neal & Massy Caledonia AIA.
But there is the feeling that Sangre Grande long for more excitement during game time rather than merely in the block party that usually follows the final whistle.
Invariably, their offensive threat tends to stem from diminutive playmaker Kendall Velox and the Vincentian veteran was his usual cocktail of style and substance yesterday. The dreadlocked midfield bolt Andre Charles was in the mood too and it meant that the Stars had more possession than might normally be expected against the fifth placed Connection.
Now if only the eighth placed Stars can crack their own run of scoreless outings before they are renamed "North East Nil".
TEAMS:Defence Force:[/b] — Kevin Graham, Anton Pierre (capt), Keston Williams, Michael Edwards, Keshawn Theodore (Ronald Boyce 65th), David Alleyne, Anton Joseph, Christon Baptiste (Ronald St. Louis 45th), Devon Jorsling (Sherman Phillip 75th), Kevon Carter, Richard Roy.
Tobago United: — James Baird, Warren Phillips (capt), George Dublin, Jamal Jack, Kevin Adams, Pierre Joseph, Lorenzo Wiebers, Marvin Phillips, Garth Woodley, Collie Hurcules, Garvin Mc Kenna.
TEAMS:North East Stars:[/b] — Curtis Granger, Glenton Wolfe (capt), Marlon Stoute, Akeil Guevara (Shervin Charles 65th), Kendall Velox, Marc Leslie, Andre Charles, Desta Francis (Iyiaka Okechukyu 57th), John Stewart, Keryn Navarro, Keston Pierre.
W Connection: — Marvin Phillip, Elijah Joseph (capt), Kern Cupid, Clyde Leon, Nickcolson Thomas, Dwight Scott, Douglas Da Costa, Jose Luis Seabra, Ronaldo Viana (Hughton Hector 59th), Gefferson Goulart (Earl Jean 46th), Christian Viveros (Gerrard Williams 74th).
Running into trouble: Lester Peltier, the San Juan wide midfielder, right, tried cutting through centrefield, but soon came under pressure from Rangers defender Arnold Ferguson, who put in a lunging tackle. Rangers won the T&T Pro League match 4-0 on Saturday at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.