Jabloteh clutches First Citizens third place.
By: Randy Bando (ttproleague).[/size]
Two time champions San Juan Jabloteh were unfortunate not to feature in this years First Citizens Cup final on Friday and had to settle for third place playoff which they celebrated victorious.
The San Juan Kings defeated south based club United Petrotrin 1-0 at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium to take home the third place purse of $20,000.00 courtesy title sponsors First Citizens.
A second half strike by midfielder Khaleem Hyland was enough to dump United Petrotrin who took home $10,000.00 for fourth place.
However the Oilmen had the better exchanges in the early period with striker Jerrol Forbes coming close to an opening item in the 4th minute, but he was denied by a low diving save by goalkeeper Cleon John.
Less than two minutes later, Forbes received the first booking of the match by referee Lee Davis.
In the 13th minute Jabloteh came close through what was an attempted cross by Elton John which crashed into goalkeeper Perry Martins side netting.
One minute later, Jabloteh ace forward Peter Byers wasted an opportunity from close range after he stabbed the ball on the wrong side of the upright.
Jabloteh head coach Terry Fenwick used the opportunity to expose a few reserve team players in knockout atmosphere, but that seemed a risk at times as Petrotrin with the likes of Keon Daniel and Jerrol Forbes kept on drilling forward in search of the opening item.
Jerrol Forbes had another go at goal in the 25th after tussling off defender Ronald Primus to punch a low shot from above the area but the strong built forward was again denied by goalkeeper John who easily handled.
On the other end Jablotehs Khaleem Hyland was gifted with an opportunity above the area unmarked but he too failed to convert, shooting high over bar in the 31st minute.
Shortly afterwards Petrotrin head coach Brian Williams surely would have been grinding his teeth at Forbes after the striker failed to capitalize on a poor back pass by defender Ronald Primus.
Jabloteh also had their goalscoring problems with Lester Peltier being denied by goalkeeper Perry Martin in the 38th minute after Byers played him goal bound.
Four minutes later Byers combined with Peltier and created an opportunity for winger Elton John but again goalkeeper Martin was on top of his game to gather the 20 yard attempt.
In the closing stages of the first period Jabloteh wasted two clear cut chances through Peter Byers and Lester Peltier. Byers did everything right muscling off his marker Devon Drayton but spiked the ball over bar in the end while Peltier with goalkeeper martin at his mercy, shot straight at the Petrotrin custodian.
The scoreline remained unchanged at the half, leaving fans impatient ahead of the restart.
Both coaches made early changes following the break, with Fenwick replacing Peltier with Gregory Geason upfront and Williams introducing Verlon Mills on for Jerrol Forbes and Belville Joseph for Simeon Augustus.
Belville took no time to get cracking as the attacking player crashed a shot into the Jabloteh upright less than two minutes on.
But Jabloteh grabbed the advantage in the 60th minute off a strike by Khaleem Hyland. Hylands item came following a brief scuffle with goalkeeper Martin after substitute Gregory Geason whipped a low cross into the Petrotrin area, 1-0 in favor of the San Juan based team.
Verlon Mills was close to leveling the scores for Petrotrin five minutes but not close enough as his attempt spilled just wide.
Jabloteh had a couple other close chances to extend the lead through Peter Byers and substitute Jamal Farrel inside the last 20 minutes but failed to hit the target.
Jablotehs Keeron Sutton, another second half introduction had the final attempt at goal after holding off two defenders to drill wide of the far post. In the end San Juan Jabloteh celebrated their success of not walking away without medals in this years First Citizens Cup.
TeamsSan Juan Jabloteh:[/b] Cleon John, Wendell Joseph (capt), Ian Gray, Ronald Primus (Jamal Farrell 62nd), Kaashif Thomas (Keeron Sutton 78th), Julien Landeau, Kevin Villaroel, Elton John, Peter Byers, Lester Peltier (Gregory Geason 55th), Khaleem Hyland.
Goal ScorerKhaleem Hyland 60.
CoachTerry Fenwick
United Petrotrin: Perry Martin, Larry Bacchus, Simeon Augustus (Beville Joseph 55th), Devon Drayton, Brent Garcia, Keon Daniel, Marlon Lewis (Akeem Paris 64th), Sylvester Teesdale, Kennedy Hinkson, Al Sinclair, Jerrol Forbes (Vurlon Mills 53rd).
Coach Brian Williams
Match RefereeLee Davis
Player of the MatchElton John (San Juan Jabloteh)
San Juan Jabloteh v United Petrotrin 1 Goals 0
7 Shots on Target 4
6 Shots Wide 6
1 Offsides 4
1 Corners 4
19 Fouls 14
2 Yellow Cards 4
0 Red Cards 0