Scantelbury hat-trick as Carib crush Moruga 8-1

CARIB earned their second victory in as many matches with an 8-1 demolition of Moruga at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Arima on Tuesday. The result was the largest margin on the day, which also saw L-Sporto Crab Connection trounce Angostura 1976 FC Phoenix 7-2 at Shaw Park, Scarborough and leaders Joe Public maintaining their lead after a hard-fought 2-1 win over Caroni at Brechin Castle, Couva. At Arima, the Moruga lads were in a jubilant mood after four minutes, when Dale Alleyne found the back of the net for the Southerners. But their joy only lasted for 11 minutes when Aaron Raper equalised for Carib, with Billydee Scantelbury doubling the score in the 17th. Raper got his second in the 27th before Scantelbury completed his hat-trick, with strikes in the 34th and 54th.

Kevon Thomas netted twice in three minutes (69th and 72nd), with Raper ending the rout with his third in the 81st. Despite their recent success, Carib remain rooted at the bottom of the 14-team standings. Following a Kevin Baptiste’s second minute opener for Crabs, Phoenix stormed back with strikes from Kayode Legall on the half-hour and Dominique Kerr in the 37th. Michael Alexis levelled the scores in the 43rd before the defending champs, in particular strikers Marvin Oliver and Marlon Warner, went on a goal spree in the second half. Oliver got on the scoresheet in the 58th and 90th with Warner on target in the 62nd, 68th and 89th.

In the earlier match of the doubleheader in Tobago, Don Morris scored the winner in the 47th to give Superstar Rangers a 1-0 edge over Biwater Stokelyvale. At Couva, Jamaican Wolrey Wolfe put “the Eastern Lions” Joe Public ahead in the 39th before Kyle Cupid equalised for Caroni in the 71st. But, with four minutes of full time remaining, Tobagonian Garvin McKenna netted the winner for Joe Public, who are five points ahead of second-placed Crabs. Police lie in third spot after a comfortable 4-0 win over WASA Clean and White at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella. Jason Boodram got a double, in the 38th and 73rd minutes, with Kurt Danclair (8th) and former national striker Dexter Cyrus (67th) netting one apiece.