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Offline Flex

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Connection still unbeaten; Police move into third.
« on: January 25, 2014, 06:14:31 AM »
Connection still unbeaten; Police move into third.
ttproleague.com.


Teams with the ambition of hacking the unbeaten stretch of form boasted by the 2013/2014 Digicel Pro League leaders DIRECTV W Connection are only realising the true difficulty along the way.

On Friday night Connection met second positioned North East Stars in a top of the table Round Two Match Day Four tie at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, and just as they did in Round One, the “Savonnetta Boys” registered a 2-0 win over the Sangre Grande club.

Talented and improved Connection forward Shahdon Winchester, who spent most of 2013 at Finland’s FF Jaro, where he is scheduled to return in March, was the torn in coach Angus Eve’s side from the first blow of referee Keilon Bacchus’ whistle.

Winchester, scorer of a double in a 4-1 win over San Juan Jabloteh on Tuesday, added his third item of the week for coach Stuart Charles Fevrier’s side when he blasted a 25 yard strike to beat a fully stretched goalkeeper Cleon John just inside the upright for a 1-0 Connection lead by the 27th minute.

Four minutes later teammate Joevin Jones tried his luck from distance and only missed the crossbar by a few inches. And in the 89th minute Jones’ brother Alvin Jones tested John with a free-kick from distance, but his effort was pushed wide for a corner by the Stars’ goalie.

However Joevin sealed the 2-0 victory in the 90th minute when he pounced on a rebound, hitting into an open net after John had blocked out an initial effort by 19 year-old new Connection signing, Surinamese forward Demitrie Apai.

The debuting Apai, who replaced striker Hashim Arcia twenty minutes earlier, had outraced a pedestrian mimicking Aquil Selby to let off a powerful curling effort from an angle.

The Round Two Match Day four victory improved Connection’s pole position with 32 points, a 10:2:0 record, and a 15-points lead.

Stars, with a side netting effort by forward Trevin Caesar in the 53rd minute as their closest effort, remained second on the standings with 17 points, as does third positioned Police FC, only behind by goal-difference.

Police FC had defeated Jabloteh 2-1 in the earlier match of Friday’s double header at the Port of Spain venue, and in the process spoiled a few debuts of their opponents.

A first half goal by forward Jameel Perry and a late winner by substitute Elijah Belgrave did the trick for coach Richard Hood.

Perry fired Police 1-0 in front from close up in the 37th minute after debuting Jabloteh goalkeeper Shane Mattis had blocked out an initial effort by Jameel’s brother, Kareem Perry, who casually weaved his way inside the area.

The “Lawmen” were dominating the chances but were put on the defence too as Jabloteh head coach Keith Jeffrey utilized newcomer Bradley Welch up front, in the absence of card-suspended Kerry Baptiste, Mattis in goal, and defensive signing Kareem Smith in the starting lineup.

But Welch, a former New York FC (USL Pro) player, only got close around the half hour mark with a well taken volley off a long pass forward by Rennie Britto, who also had a couple efforts himself.

Jeffrey later introduced another new signing, former Caledonia AIA and Joe Public player Jean-Luc Rochford in the 61st minute, and by the 77th minute the former Trinidad and Tobago Youth World Cup midfielder leveled the score 1-1.

Rochford, known to be ambitious from distance, executed a strike that took height and dipped in time to find the back of goalkeeper Adrian Foncette’s net.

But Hood pulled a trick out of his hat as well, replacing Jameel Perry with Belgrave ten minutes from time.

It was not until the 90th minute that Belgrave handed his side the match winner, with his trademark strike for 2-1 finish. The defender-turned-forward turned away from Smith above the area and unleashed a powerful blast that Mattis just couldn’t meet.

Round Two Match Day Four continues on Saturday when Central FC travels to the Mahaica Oval against home side Point Fortin Civic FC from 3.30 pm.

Central are set to showcase new signings Trinidad and Tobago forward Willis Plaza, ex-T&T international and LA Galaxy defender Yohance Marshall, former T&T U-17 and U-20 Youth World Cup captain Leston Paul and Samuel Delice.

But the “Central Sharks” are up against the smoking guns of Point Fortin Civic, predominantly that of attacking midfielder Marcus Joseph, scorer of two hat-tricks in four days.

Joseph, a former T&T Youth World Cup player, registered his first hat-trick in Saturday’s 5-0 trouncing of Police FC, and tricked again in Tuesday’s 3-0 drubbing of St. Ann’s Rangers.

Results

San Juan Jabloteh 1—2 Police FC
Jean-Luc Rochford 77’  ;  Jameel Perry 37’, Elijah Belgrave 90’

North East Stars 0—2 W Connection
Shahdon Winchester 27’, Joevin Jones 90’

Teams

San Juan Jabloteh—30. Shane Mattis, 7. Rennie Britto (C) (9. Jelani Felix 77th), 12. Jamal Spencer, 6. Dario Holmes, 16. Nyron Jones (4. Jean-Luc Rochford 61st), 24. Kareem Smith, 20. Dwane James, 18. Jevon Morris, 15. Micah Lewis, 8. Bradley Welch, 14. Shaquille Bertrand (21. Neil Mitchell 61st)

Unused substitutes—19. Dillon Kirton, 25. Alfie James, 3. Lekion Elie, 26. Keino Goodridge

Coach – Keith Jeffrey

Police FC—18. Adrian Foncette, 21. Todd Ryan (C), 2. Jasimar Ashers, 5. Anton Hutchinson, 6. Kenaz Williams, 8. Akiba Peters, 10. Trent Noel, 11. Kareem Perry (39. Joel Kevin Lewis 67th), 15. Jameel Perry (20. Elijah Belgrave 80th), 19. Christon Thomas, 27. Clevon McFee

Unused substitutes—1. Errol Charles, 12. Vernell Ramirez, 25. Kemron Purcell, 30. Jamal Francois (GK)

Coach—Richard Hood

Match Referee—Keilon Bacchus

Teams

North East Stars—22. Cleon John (C), 4. Keithy Simpson, 5. Aquil Selby, 6. Jeromie Williams (40. Jomoul Francois 75th), 8. Keron Cummings, 12. Jayson Joseph, 15. Chike Sullivan (7. Elijah Manners 70th), 19. Glenton Wolfe (Yellow Card) (41. Neveal Hackshaw 84th), 20. Trevin Caesar, 23. Kennedy Hinkson, 25. Keryn Navarro

Unused substitutes—1. Stefan Berkeley (GK), 9. Akiel Guevara, 18. Kaashif Thomas, 48. Jesus Perez

Coach—Angus Eve

W Connection—22. Aquelius Sylvester, 3. Gerard Williams (C), 14. Hashim Arcia (32. Demitrie Apai 70th), 7. Silvio Spann (13. Devaughn Elliot 85th), 16. Shahdon Winchester (Yellow Card), 19. Leslie Joel Russell, 65. Neil Benjamin Jr. (4. Daneil Cyrus 75th), 2. Kurt Frederick (Yellow Card), 10. Joevin Jones, 15. Mekeil Williams, 39. Alvin Jones

Unused substitutes—18. Julani Archibald (GK), 25. Christian Viveros, 11. Tremain Shayn Paul, 31. Jerrel Britto

Coach—Stuart Charles Fevrier

Referee—Neil Brizan

The real measure of a man's character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out.

Offline SWF Reporter

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Sizzling Shahdon takes Connection past Stars; Police edges Jabloteh
« Reply #1 on: January 25, 2014, 10:12:23 AM »
Sizzling Shahdon takes Connection 15 points past Stars
By Lasana Liburd (Wired868)


Twenty-two year old Shahdon Winchester lit up a drab top of the table clash at the Hasely Crawford Stadium last night as Digicel Pro League leader, DIRECTV W Connection, stormed a whopping 15 points clear of the pack with a 2-0 win over second place North East Stars.

Winchester, who re-joined Connection in the January transfer window after a loan spell in the Finland Premier League, opened the scoring with a blast from outside the area in the 27th minute before Joevin Jones wrapped up the proceedings in the closing seconds.

In the earlier affair, Police FC shook off a run of three matches without a win with a last gasp 2-1 triumph over San Juan Jabloteh at the same venue.

Jameel Perry scored his second goal in successive matches in the 37th minute after Jabloteh custodian Shane Mattis parried an effort from his brother, Kareem Perry. Mattis was one of a stream of debutantes in the Jabloteh squad including ex-Petrotrin and “Soca Warriors” defender Kareem Smith and former national youth team players Jean Luch-Rochford and Brandon Welch.

Rochford, a two-time World Youth Cup player, has endured a topsy-turvy senior career so far as a promising start with Joe Public led to a less dynamic stint with Caledonia AIA and a disastrous time at North East Stars. But his Jabloteh reincarnation began well as he came off the substitutes’ bench to beat Police custodian Adrian Foncette with a dipping effort from 25 yards in the 77th minute.

Jabloteh could not hold on though.

Police utility player Elijah Belgrave, a former St Ann’s Rangers defender who was promoted higher up the pitch to take advantage of his fierce shot, snatched all three points for the “Lawmen” with a trademark blast from distance in the dying seconds.

The result lifted Police to third and only goal difference separates coach Richard Hood’s men from Stars.

Point Fortin Civic can leapfrog Police and Stars with a win over visiting Central FC from 3.30 pm at the Mahaica Oval today. But there seems to be no catching Connection.

The “Savonetta Boys” continued their inevitable march towards a record fifth Pro League title last night with a typically chanceless triumph over Stars. At present, Connection and Jabloteh have four League crowns each while Defence Force, the current defending champion, has three.

Much has been made of Connection’s penchant for South American signings but there were nine Trinidad and Tobago players in coach Stuart Charles-Fevrier’s starting team last night. Winchester was the pick of the bunch.

A former Naparima College wonderkid who made his senior Connection debut at 16, the composed striker is blessed with technique, strength, a decent passing range and a knack for finding space in crowded areas.

But Winchester has not always shown the tenacity needed to stand out among equally gifted players and, as a result, his senior international record reads a disappointing four substitute appearances with no starts or goals.

There are signs that he might be turning the corner and Soca Warriors coach Stephen Hart, who looked on from the stands, would have noted Winchester’s positional versatility and increased mobility; as the one-time specialist striker spent his night dashing inside from either flank and running through his repertoire of flicked passes.

Arguably, it is easier to stand out in such a drab affair.

There were four shots on target over the entire game—all from Connection—and three of them came in the last four minutes.

Connection conceded a League low five goals this season with seven clean sheets from 11 outings before last night’s clash. While Stars captain and custodian Cleon John had let in just six goals before last night and his club had not conceded from its previous three League games in 2014.

John and Stars coach Angus Eve might be disappointed by the opener last night as Winchester took full advantage of a momentary lapse on concentration.

Connection captain and St Kitts international Gerard Williams charged forward from his post as midfield anchor in the 27th minute but was knocked over by Stars enforcer Jeromie Williams. As Williams and his teammates appealed loudly for a free kick, Winchester blasted goalward from outside the area and the ball squirmed under John for the opener.

It was not until the 88th minute that John was called into action again as he pushed a powerful Alvin Jones free kick around his post.

And, two minutes later, Connection doubled its lead as teenaged Surinamese substitute Demitrie Apai broke clear from the inattentive Aquil Selby and, although John blocked the initial effort, Joevin Jones rammed home the rebound for his sixth goal this season.

Jones, who is nominally a midfielder but has license to roam by Fevrier, is Connection’s leading scorer for the second season running while only Jabloteh’s Kerry Baptiste (eight goals) and Point Fortin’s Marcus Joseph (seven) have been more prolific in the League.

But, in the points tally, Connection is in a league of its own.

(Teams)

North East Stars (4-2-3-1): 22.Cleon John (GK) (captain); 23.Kennedy Hinkson, 5.Aquil Selby, 19.Glenton Wolfe (41.Neveal Hackshaw 84), 25.Keryn Navarro; 6.Jeromie Williams (40.Jomoul Francois 75), 12.Jayson Joseph; 8.Keron Cummings, 15.Chike Sullivan (7.Elijah Manners 70), 4.Keithy Simpson; 20.Trevin Caesar.

Unused substitutes: 1.Stefan Berkeley (GK), 9.Akeil Guevara, 18.Kaashif Thomas, 48.Jesus Perez.

Coach: Angus Eve

 

W Connection
(4-2-1-3): 22.Aquelius Sylvester (GK), 39.Alvin Jones, 19.Joel Russell, 15.Mekeil Williams, 2.Kurt Frederick; 3.Gerard Williams, 7.Silvio Spann (11.Tremain Paul 84); 10.Joevin Jones; 65.Neil Benjamin (4.Daneil Cyrus 75), 14.Hashim Arcia (32.Demitrie Apai 70), 16.Shahdon Winchester.

Unused substitutes: 18.Julani Archibald (GK), 13.Devaughn Elliot, 25.Christian Viveros, 31.Jerrel Britto.

Coach: Stuart Charles-Fevrier

Referee: Neal Brizan

 

Digicel Pro League

(Fri Jan 24)

Police 2 (Jameel Perry 37, Elijah Belgrave 90), San Juan Jabloteh 1 (Jean-Luc Rochford 78) at Hasely Crawford

W Connection
2 (Shahdon Winchester 27, Joevin Jones 90), North East Stars 0 at Hasely Crawford

(Sat Jan 25)

Point Fortin Civic vs Central FC
, 3.30 pm, Mahaica Oval.
« Last Edit: January 30, 2014, 09:17:46 AM by FF »

Offline Tiresais

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Re: Connection still unbeaten; Police move into third.
« Reply #2 on: January 25, 2014, 11:19:00 AM »
Rochford was an excellent buy - one of the best players outside the Pro League. Surprised no one got him before

 

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