Cleon holds off Jabloteh; Police FC cruises past Rangers
By Lasana Liburd (Wired868)
A remarkable second half performance from Trinidad and Tobago goalkeeper Cleon John saved the day for a depleted North East Stars team tonight as a late Kennedy Hinkson winner helped the Sangre Grande-based outfit escape with a 1-0 win over San Juan Jabloteh at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain.
The result saw Stars jump from fifth to second place in the Digicel Pro League although Point Fortin Civic or Central FC can overtake them with wins tomorrow.
Point Fortin hosts Defence Force from 3.30 pm tomorrow at Mahaica Oval while Central faces League leader DIRECTV W Connection from 5 pm at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva. Fourth place Caledonia AIA is on a bye for this round.
Police FC enjoyed today’s work as well as the “Lawmen” cruised into third spot with a comfortable 2-0 win over a fresh faced St Ann’s Rangers team at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
The average age of the Rangers starting team this evening was just 21-years-old and it comprised of three teenagers including 16-year-old schoolboys Jair Edwards (Fatima College) and Josh Toussaint (Diego Martin North Secondary). By the final whistle, coach Gilbert Bateau had six teenagers on the field.
“Our intention is to go with youth this year,” Rangers chairman Richard Fakoory told Wired868. “These are some of the players who won the national under-17 league with me last year.
“We might get beat this year but next year will be better.”
The Lawmen certainly did mind as they made light work of Rangers.
Joel Lewis skilfully rounded Rangers custodian to open the scoring in the 28th minute after an assist from Police captain Todd Ryan. And defender Karlon Murray doubled his team’s advantage, seven minutes later, as he fired into the far corner after a low Christon Thomas cross.
Police winger Akiba Peters struck the bar twice in the second half without adding to the score summary as the Lawmen, who have played at least one more game than the League’s other eight clubs, ended with a similar 10-point tally as Stars but behind on goal difference.
Stars coach Angus Eve must have settled for a solitary point tonight. Somehow, he got all three.
Both Pro League games today started with a minute’s silence in tribute to the iconic former South Africa president and Nobel peace prize winner Nelson Mandela who passed away yesterday.
One reporter cheekily pointed out that the Pro League had given Mandela much more than two minutes of courtesy. There were barely two dozen spectators in the Hasely Crawford Stadium and, arguably, there were 180 minutes of silence today.
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