Starworld go back to the top

A PAIR of goals in the space of two minutes gave Starworld Strikers a 2-1 victory over Arima/Morvant Fire in their rescheduled T&T Pro League encounter at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Arima on Monday. The win put Starworld back atop the eight-team standings with 28 points, one more than North East Stars.

Fire failed to capitalise on an early opportunity, when referee John Danouse awarded a penalty in the 11th minute after Starworld goalkeeper Marvin Phillip brought down midfielder Dale Simon. But Simon’s low left-footer rebounded off the crossbar with Phillip beaten. The Starworld’s attacking duo of Peter Prosper and Guyanese Randolph Jerome were a constant menace to the Fire defence, and they teamed up for the Southerners’ first goalbound chance in the 24th when, on a counterattack, Prosper’s squared-pass on the right went across the goal, to the disbelief of the sliding Jerome. But Starworld would eventually get the lead in the 36th when Anton Ramnarine collected a ball on the left flank and centred to Prosper who headed home past Fire’s goalkeeper Michael Woods.

Before the Fire defence could settle, they allowed another goal in the 38th minute when Jerome, eluding his man-marker Anthony Haynes on the right, back-heeled pass to Ramnarine who blasted his left-footer past Woods. Simon eventually got his name on the scoresheet in the 50th, blasting home a right-footed half-volley after Phillip failed to clear a left-side cross from Handel Manswell. But Starworld kept up the pressure on the hosts to ensure that they reclaimed the top spot, at least until today, with three matches carded from 5 pm —  North East meeting back-to-back champs CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella; W Connection hosting Fire at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva while Defence Force will travel deep south, to the Palo Seco Recreation Ground, to face South West Drillers.