http://www.ttproleague.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1584&Itemid=2Rangers hold Army to 1-1 draw
Tuesday, 30 October 2007
Gordon Pierre reports...--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Superstar Rangers gained a valuable point on Tuesday when they held fourth place Defence Force to a 1-1 draw at the Hasley Crawford Stadium.
Despite only gaining one point in the Round Three Match Day Seven Defence Force have managed to hold on to their fourth place on the League standings.
While Superstar Rangers desperate for a Big Six place, is still shy of two places in eight position with just 29 points.
Defence Force entered the match looking to stay close in the League title race and with Rangers trying to get a spot in the Big Six the game promised to be a cracker and did not disappoint the fans present.
Rangers should have taken advantage in as early as the third minute when midfielder Marc Borde shot just wide after he was sent through the Army defence by Ricardo Aleong.
One minute later Defence Force’s Devon Jorsling turned the ball just wide of goalkeeper Shane Mattis’ upright after a perfect cross from Kevon Carter.
The game continued at pace with Rangers dictating while ‘Army’ seemed to be still ailing from their 6-1 drubbing by Jabloteh last Friday in the Toyota Classic semifinals.
Rangers had a good attempt by Christon Thomas in the 10th minute deflected just wide by a scrambling Army defence.
But ‘Army’ showed promise in the 33rd minute with Christopher Durity’s telling run into the Rangers area but his shot was straight at goalkeeper Shane Mattis.
Rangers however continued to dominate the game and it seemed only a matter of time before the opening goal.
Josimar Belgrave should have pumped the St Anns based team ahead in the 42nd minute but his weak shot was blocked out after he had rounded the ‘Army’ goalie.
Two minutes later his teammate Devon Modeste blasted wide after getting through the ‘Army’ back line to leave the score goalless at the half.
Following the break Richard Roy replaced the misfiring Devon Jorsling for Defence Force and his impact was immediate in the 50th minute when he set Christopher Durity goalbound but the end result was wide.
Rangers’ goalie Shane Mattis had to make a brilliant save in the 53rd minute pushing Jerwin Balthazar’s shot wide for a corner.
Mattis couldn’t do the same in the 60th as Defence Force took a 1-0 advantage. Substitute striker Richard Roy tapped home a Jerwin Balthazar cross past the Jamaican goalie to give his team the lead.
Rangers’ Josimar Belgrave almost pulled his team level eight minutes later when he blasted a spilled ball by goalkeeper George but the ‘Army’ goalie made amends to block the shot.
George made another save in the 70th minute to deny a first time effort by Devon Modeste.
After this the Army seemed contented to sit on their slim lead and Rangers took advantage of this launching raid after raid.
Finally the equalizer came when Devon Modeste met a cross bravely with his head and got the ball past goalkeeper George in the 78th minute to level the scores 1-1.
The goal brought ‘Army’ to life but try as they may, they could not find a winning goal even with Richard Roy’s powerful in the 90th minute strike which was pushed over by goalkeeper Mattis.
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Teams
Defence Force—Selwyn George(GK), Anton Pierre(Capt.)(Dexter Pacheco), Keston Williams, Devon Jordon, Michael Edwards, Christopher Durity, Devon Jorsling(Richard Roy), Kevon Carter, Anton Joseph(Akil Edwards), Corey Rivers, Jerwin Balthazar
Goalscorer—Richard Roy 60’
Coach—Kerry Jamerson
Superstar Rangers—Shane Mattis(GK), Dean Pacheco, Richardo Aleong(Shem Mc Farlane), Devon Modeste(Abiola Clarence), Josimar Belgrave, Arnold Ferguson, Marc Borde, Todd Ryan, Coneal Thomas, Christon Thomas, Jevon Morris
Goalscorer—Devon Modeste 78’
Coach—Anthony Streete
