Jabloteh, Stars in 1-1 draw

AN 89th minute equaliser from national striker Cornell Glen saved TT Pro League leaders from defeat to the hands of North East Stars at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella. Instead both teams walked away from yesterday’s 28th round clash with a 1-1 draw and a share of the points, their second meeting in three days after N/E Stars eliminated Jabloteh from the FA Trophy competition 2-0 on Friday night at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar, Arima.

Jabloteh still lead the standings with 68 points from 27 matches, with the Sangre Grande-based Stars third on 50 points from 28 games. And second-placed W Connection can reduce the deficit even further, to seven points, if they can get the better of South Starworld Strikers at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Balmain, Couva today from 7 pm. The North East Stars squad and their faithful supporters may have been thinking of double victory over the League kings this weekend when veteran forward Jerren Nixon put them in front in the 63rd. But their joy will be shortlived when Glen found the target in the dying seconds. Defence Force remained fourth on the table following a 1-0 win over “the Stallions” Caledonia AIA at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo.

A sprinkling of fans witnessed a mostly dull affair between the mid-table teams, with a 78th minute goal from substitute Kerwyn Coa, shooting past goalkeeper Michael Woods from close range, separating the teams. Arima Fire earned their seventh win of the season - 2-1 over “the Eastern Lions” Joe Public at the Larry Gomes Stadium. Early goals from Alvris Faure Diaz in the seventh minute and Ashford Legerton in the 28th gave the Firemen full points, despite a late strike from Joe Public’s striker Christian Freitas in second half stoppage time. And, in the day’s other fixture, South West Institute of Football (SWIF) and fellow strugglers Tobago United battled to a 2-2 draw at the Palo Seco Recreation Grounds.

Under-20 Results: CALEDONIA AIA (3) - Kevon Boyce 2, Sheldon Emmanuel vs DEFENCE FORCE (0); SAN JUAN JABLOTEH (8) - Jerol Forbes 3, Ricardo Bennett 2, Rennie Britto, Ijanna Mark, Brendon Christopher; TOBAGO UNITED (2) vs SWIF (1).