Club Sando shut down Defence Force 2-1

The result also saw Angus Eve’s men leapfrog W Connection, for second on the Pro League 2017 standings by goal-difference as both teams are level on 14 points and two adrift of leaders North East Stars, who have two games in hand against Central FC and San Juan Jabloteh.

Connection were slowed for a third straight time on Friday night by a 1-1 draw against Morvant Caledonia United, who will host Sando next Friday at the Hasely Crawford Stadium from 8 pm.

Noel, a 22-year-old former Trinidad and Tobago Under-17 and Under-20 forward, grabbed the winning item — his first professional goal — with three minutes left and only seven minutes on the pitch after Defence Force forward Kellon Serrette had levelled Kevon Piper’s stunning goal at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella.

Defence Force, coming off a 4-1 win over W Connection, had kept the game scoreless before the break with defender Curtis Gonzales heading behind at the goal line to keep out a lofted Akim Armstrong try on 20 minutes, and goalkeeper Sheldon Clarke pulling off a reflex save to put behind a Nical Stephens attempt from close up.

The “Teteron Boys” however, had enjoyed the most possession in the opening half hour, but Trevin Latapy, Nicholas Thomas and company were solid at the back for Sando, spoiling every raid by the visitors.

A lapse in sharpness in the 78th minute, though, saw Serrette’s glancing header from inside the six-yard area beat Sando goalkeeper Kelvin Henry, levelling the scores at 1-1 off a right side Kerry Joseph cross.

Defence Force coach Marvin Gordon had boosted his team’s attack with the introduction of veteran marksman Devorn Jorsling and winger Shaquille Bertrand after a sublime volleyed drive by Piper — free at the back post — off a Jared London cross had beaten goalkeeper Clarke in the 58th minute.

However it was Eve’s changes that delivered for Sando on the other end in the 87th minute when substitute Akeem Redhead’s through-ball allowed Noel a free run behind the defence and the ex-College of Charleston and W Connection youth forward took one touch through the legs of an advancing Clarke. It was enough to see the ball into the back of the net and Sando celebrated their fourth win in the last six outings.

Pro League 2017 action will continue today when Police FC take on serial champions Central FC from 6 pm at the training field of the Hasely Crawford Stadium.

Central will look for booster ahead of their travel to Panama where they would try to overturn a 2-1 first leg deficit against CD Árabe Unido on Thursday for a place in the Scotiabank CONCACAF League quarter-finals later this month.

Jabloteh meanwhile, will first attempt a similar feat tomorrow when they welcome Santos de Guapiles from 8 pm at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, but the “San Juan Kings” face a mountain of a challenge against the Costa Ricans who won 6-2 in the first leg.