Club Sando trounce Caledonia

The victory snapped a losing streak of four league defeats and five overall in all competitions for Sando since the southerners stopped Caledonia 4-2 in the third place play-off of the First Citizens Cup on October 30 last year.

However, Sando, the former Super League champions and debutants in the Pro League this season, despite drawing level on four points with ninth-placed Caledonia, remained bottom of the 10-team 2015-16 standings by virtue of a much lesser goal-difference.

Downing unleased a 25-yard laser in the 37th minute to give Sando a much deserved 1-0 lead, following earlier near misses by forwards Kevon Woodley and Devon Modeste and a save by Caledonia reserve goalkeeper Deandre Villaroel to deny Woodley.

Villaroel had little chance at the Downing effort. The 19-yearold was playing in the absence of Marvin Phillip, who flew out to Panama with the Trinidad and Tobago senior national team that will take on Haiti in a Copa America Centenario play-off in Panama City tomorrow.

Downing, occupying a wide attacking role, unleashed the strike with precision and sting to fit the ball into the bottom corner following a desperate clearance by the Caledonia defence.

Having ended the first half on top, Sando remained on the front foot and doubled the advantage by the 53rd minute.

Defender Gildharry blasted into the roof of Villaroel’s net from inside the box for the 2-0 cushion after the Caledonia ‘keeper had charged down a Woodley attempt from a left side corner swung in by Modeste.

Caledonia, on a rare opening past the Sando defence, had a chance to slice the home side’s lead in half just past the hour mark, but Caledonia captain Kareem Joseph’s crack from the right side cannoned off the far upright and stayed in play before it was carried out to safety by Sando.

Earlier, Caledonia coach Jerry Moe had thrown in attacking midfielders Pernell Schultz and Akim Armstrong in support of midfielder Densill Theobald and talented forward Sheldon Holder.

However, other than Joseph’s attempt off the upright and Holder troubling the side netting a minute before the break, the visitors failed make it a busy night for goalkeeper Kelvin Henry.

Henry’s clean sheet in the end would not have been possible without the solid defensive work by midfielder Jared London and defenders Corneal Thomas, Kemuel Rivers and captain Kern Cupid, who was stretchered off with 12 minutes left in regulation time due to a suspected leg strain.

Ironically, Cupid’s replacement, Kerron Mitchell sealed the 3-0 win in the third and final minute of stoppage-time for Club Sando and their coach Anthony Streete.

Mitchell slid in near the goalmouth to put a right side Akeem Humphrey cross beyond a hapless Villaroel.