Army halt SWIF 5-1

DEFENCE FORCE closed the gap on the top two — CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh and W Connection— in yesterday’s 12th round action of the T&T Pro League.

With Jabloteh and Connection’s top-of-the-table postponed, and both teams preparing for Wednesday’s FCB Cup final, the Army-Coast Guard combination staged a come-from-behind 5-1 triumph over South West Institute of Football (SWIF) at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo. South Starworld Strikers are fourth on the table after a narrow 1-0 win over Arima Fire at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella while Carey Harris was on target for North East Stars, who edged Joe Public 1-0 at the Sangre Grande Recreation Ground. And the “Stallions” Caledonia AIA held a halftime 1-0 lead over Tobago United in last night’s encounter at the Dwight Yorke Stadium, Bacolet. At Mucurapo, Peter Prosper gave the SWIF fans something to shout about in the 17th minute. After receiving a through ball from playmaker Marlon Minguel, Prosper withstood a weak challenge from defender Kelshall Alexander and sent a low right-footer past goalkeeper Selwyn George. But Defence Force levelled the scores three minutes later, with national defender Anton Pierre rifling a 25-metre freekick past the outstretched hands of goalie Andy Dean.

The Teteron lads never looked threatening in attack, but the SWIF defence were guilty of a series of stray passes, which resulted in D/Force’s second goal. After Prosper failed to collect a pass from captain Jace Peters, defender Corey Rivers sent Russell Pope clear and, with Dean committing himself, Pope calmly rolled the ball into the open net. Five minutes after the restart, a right-side centre from Kevin Williams found Pope and, in a tangle between himself, Peters and defender Kelvin Hernandez, Owen Matthews tapped the loose ball home. Peters was sent off by referee Bevon Spencer - his only caution of the game — after he pulled down a goal-bound Kevon Carter in the 67th. Rivers saw his subsequent free-kick saved but Balondemu Julius slotted home the rebound. And the rout was completed in the 88th — a Williams centre was missed by Julius, as well as Dean, and Matthews was on spot to net his second.

Under-20 Results: DEFENCE FORCE (3) — Keron Edwards 37th, Marvin Jones 79th, Clevon George 83rd vs SWIF (1) - William Garcia 45th; STARWORLD STRIKERS (1) vs ARIMA FIRE (0); CALEDONIA AIA (3) vs TOBAGO UNITED (2); NORTH EAST STARS (3) vs JOE PUBLIC (2).