Connection seeking to regain winning ways

Connection (13 points) are second on the 2017 standings behind leaders North East Stars (16 points), who after this weekend will have two games in hand, with their latest fixture against San Juan Jabloteh shifted to August 22, due to the latter’s involvement in the inaugural Scotiabank CONCACAF League for qualified clubs from Central America and the Caribbean.

“Not coming away with three points against (Morvant) Caledonia will make it even harder on us (W Connection),” said veteran Connection midfielder Hughtun Hector.

“We are one of the top clubs in Trinidad and three years without winning the League title is a long time. We want to be champions again. And it’s important that we keep the pressure on North East Stars and be in a good position heading into the second (and final) round.” Connection kicked off the truncated 2017 Pro League (18 matches) campaign with three consecutive wins, defeating St Ann’s Rangers (1-0), Point Fortin Civic (2-1) and Club Sando (3-1) along the way.

But they suffered a narrow loss to Police (1-0) through an own goal by their fourth game.

Stuart Charles-Fevrier’s men rebounded with a win and a draw against Jabloteh (3-1) and North East Stars (2-2) respectively, but their latest outing ended in a disappointing 4-1 loss to Defence Force—a side that had not won in five previous outings.

Rangers will face Civic in a bottom-ofthe- table clash in the first game at the Hasely Crawford Stadium today from 6 pm, but like Morvant Caledonia, the St Ann’s club have not been competitive in almost three weeks since a shock 1-0 win over three-time defending champions Central on July 14.

Last weekend’s carded game between Rangers and Morvant Caledonia had to be rescheduled to a date still to be determined.

Sando, a side unbeaten in their last five outings, also returns to play this weekend, when they host Defence Force from 4 pm at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella tomorrow.

And, on Monday, from 6 pm at the Hasely Crawford Stadium Training Field, Police FC will tackle Central FC.