Starworld hammer Tobago United 13-1

STARWORLD STRIKERS proved their worth as one of the T&T Pro League’s most consistent teams this season with a 13-1 hammering of Tobago United at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella on Sunday. But the match was reduced to a farce from the very start as the Tobagonians showed up with only one substitute and two members of their technical staff. Veteran midfielder Marc Borde, who eventually registered a beaver-trick, got Star-world’s first three goals —  the first from the penalty spot after nine minutes, the second in the 14th from a left-footed blast and his third a minute later. The fourth goal came in comical circumstances — in the 25th, makeshift goalkeeper Ancil George and defender Kevon John collided with goal-bound striker Randolph Jerome outside the penalty box with Peter Prosper on hand to slot the ball into the vacant net. Jerome got his name on the scoresheet in the 27th, with a one-time shot from a left-side centre by Anton Ramnarine.

In the 31st, Borde sent Jerome clear on the left and his centre to Prosper was parried by George to the path of his defender Joel Alleyne who tapped it into his own net. In the 39th, Prosper blew past Alleyne and sent his right footer under George’s mistimed dive. And in the 43rd, former national midfielder Lyndon Andrews sent dreadlocked defender Dexter Franklyn free on the right and he lobbed the stranded George . Then in stoppage time, Andrews and Jerome played a one-two in the penalty box and Andrews shot home via George’s deflection.  With a halftime score of 9-0, Starworld relaxed in the second half, but Borde completed his beaver-trick in the 51st when, on a give-and-go with Andrews, he buried his left-footer home and, two minutes later, Kevin Hernandez spotted George off his line and placed his lob to perfection. Borde’s chip from the right flank was headed downward by ex-TT striker Wesley Webb with Ram-narine tapping the ball from close range in the 76th.

Then in the 82nd, Sean Julien’s authoritative right-footer went in via the crossbar. On-loan striker Ijanar Mark, by far the best on display for Tobago, pulled back one for his team in stoppage time, but the die had long been cast for the season’s wooden-spooners. North East Stars remained atop the standings after they were held to a 1-1 draw by CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh at the Sangre Grande Recreation Ground. Guyanese midfielder Carey Harris put North East ahead in the 25th but former national defender Nigel Daniel equalised for Jabloteh in the 69th. Defence Force cruised to a 2-0 victory over South West Drillers at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo with items from Shelton Williams in the 31st minute and ex-TT Under-20 striker Odelle Armstrong in the 88th. One Under-20 match was contested on Sunday, with Defence Force and Drillers battling to a 1-1 stalemate. Kenjay Simmons put the Teteron lads ahead in the 20th before Andre Logan levelled the scores for Drillers 18 minutes later.