D/Force battle unbeaten Jabloteh

DEFENCE FORCE, who made a steady climb from rock bottom to fourth on the standings in the space of 11 weeks, will be trying to hand CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh their first defeat in the TT Pro League today.

The teams meet at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo, from  4 pm in their 13th round battle, with Jabloteh atop the standings with 30 points, with the Army-Coast Guard combination eight points adrift. The defending league kings, coached by former English international Ricky Hill, have a season-leading 36 goals as well as the least goals conceded — nine. But Defence Force, with another debutant coach Hutson “Barber” Charles, has rebounded strongly since their 9-1 humilation against Jabloteh in the third round, also at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, on May 21. The Teteron lads have recorded seven wins in their subsequent nine matches to challenge Jabloteh, W Connection and South Starworld Strikers for the top spot.

Connection, who drew their last two matches versus Jabloteh, will have an easy task against a weak Arima Fire squad at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar, Arima. The “Savonneta Boys” are five points behind Jabloteh, and their experienced lineup should have little pressure from the firemen, who are second from bottom on the standings. Starworld Strikers will travel to the Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya to battle the inconsistent “Eastern Lions” Joe Public while South West Institute of Football (SWIF) hosts “the Stallions” Caledonia AIA at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella.