Stars, Connection neck-and-neck

NORTH EAST Stars and W Connection remain in a neck-and-neck battle for the 2004 T&T Pro League crown after Round 24 action was held on Wednesday night. North East all but ended CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh’s hopes for a three-peat with a comfortable 3-1 victory at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Arima. Connection came from behind twice to defeat Defence Force 3-2 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo. National forward Jerren Nixon converted a ninth minute penalty to give North East an early lead against Jabloteh, with strike partner Keryn Navarro extending the lead in the 48th. Kayode McKinnon netted North East’s third in the 67th before hard-working midfielder Trent Noel pulled one back for Jabloteh three minutes from time.

A 26th minute strike from midfielder Christon Baptiste handed Defence Force the initiative before Brazilian midfielder William Da Silva Ollivera equalised in the 57th. Veteran striker Sherman “Ants” Phillip restored the lead for the Teteron lads a minute later but Connection responded with two goals in the space of one minute, by strikers Andre Toussaint (62nd) and Titus Elva (63rd). One other match was held on Wednesday, the first match of a double-header at Arima, with Arima/Morvant Fire and Starworld Strikers engaged in a dramatic 2-2 draw. National midfielder Densil Theobald put the hosts in front after 50 minutes before Kevin Hernandez levelled the scores in the 62nd. A penalty by Marc Borde pushed Starworld ahead in the 68th but Fire earned a share of the points courtesy Elliot James in the 78th.