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Fri, Mar

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Economy North East Stars snapped a three-game losing streak on Saturday evening with a valuable 2-2 draw against St Ann's Rangers at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar.
Rangers coach Anthony Streete could not be reached for comment on the T&T Pro League fixture yesterday. Perhaps it was just as well. The St Ann's outfit should have had the result wrapped up long before a late, speculative strike from Colombian midfielder Carlos Gonzales offered Stars a barely deserved share of the spoils.

Streete's squad were two goals ahead within the opening ten minutes as their three-pronged attack cut through the Stars defence with unseemly ease. Their mistake was to assume that the entire night would continue in that vein.

Coach Clint Marcelle's team does not lie down easily and Stars owner Darryl Mahabir, who plans to sign two more players before the transfer window closes, would be pleased to see an immediate return on his latest investment after Gonzales' storming debut.

Owner Mahabir would love to sample some champagne football. But he is grateful for Marcelle's brew that has gradually restored the confidence of his franchise.

There has been much to celebrate in Sangre Grande of late with team captain and 2006 World Cup player Anthony Wolfe back in the international frame, while his brother and talented defender Glenton Wolfe is weeks away from a return after injury.

The opening half hour on Sunday, though, belonged to the visitors.

Josimar Belgrave, the Pro League's most prolific player this season, gave Rangers a dream start with a composed finish in the sixth minute for his 12th league goal while, four minutes later, Shane Rennie belted home after another Belgrave attack.

The passage of play continued to favour the St Ann's squad and Keon Edwards should have placed them three goals clear before a defensive lapse allowed Stars back in contention. Linsie Sherwood made the most of space on the right side of the Rangers defence and another Colombian, Milton Espitia, made no mistake from his cross.

Gonzales, a recruit from bmobile Joe Public, was their most influential player on the night, though. An anonymous winger at Public, Gonzales would have run through walls for Stars on Saturday and he capped his first outing with a fortunate but vital goal.

Rangers goalkeeper Shane Mattis yelped as teammate Corneal Thomas nearly kicked his arm off with a hurried clearance in the 80th minute. The Jamaican might have demanded immediate medical attention but opted to play through the pain.

He could not have known that Gonzales was already taking aim and the Colombian's firm blast, which required only a regulation save, squirmed off Mattis arm and into the roof of the net.

Stars, who are seventh, still trail Rangers by four points but at least kept their rivals from sneaking further away as they prepare for a late charge up the table. Sixth place and a spot in the post-season "Lucozade Big Six" competition is usually the minimum for an ambitious local outfit. The Colombian connection helped their cause on Saturday.

 In the earlier game, Defence Force managed two consecutive T&T Pro League wins for the first time this season as they edged bmobile Joe Public 1-0 at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar.

The result pulled the army/coast guard combination within four points of seventh placed Economy North East Stars as they belatedly chase the Pro League pack. Stars played St Ann's Rangers after press time last night.

Defence Force sent a swarm of crosses into the opposing penalty area and Devon Jorsling cashed in with an opportunistic finish in the ninth minute. Jorsling might have easily tallied a hat-trick but failed to capitalise on the accurate services of winger Kerry Joseph.

Public should have had an equaliser as referee Neil Brizan disallowed a Christopher Harvey header although he did not appear to touch Army goalkeeper Kevin Graham. Defence Force coach Kerry Jamerson may feel he is due a slice of good fortune.