Jabloteh dethrone Connection for Pro Bowl

A 50TH MINUTE goal by striker Kerry Noray was enough to give CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh a 1-0 triumph over 2004 winners W Connection and the T&T Pro League Pro Bowl at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella. Friday night’s match was an ill-tempered affair which saw Jabloteh defenders Keyeno Thomas and Cyd Gray receiving red cards by referee Neal Brizan. But Jabloteh’s energy, especially in the second half, was a crucial factor in their victory, which also ended Connection’s unbeaten run this season. Jabloteh suffered two early setbacks in the first half-hour.

After 12 minutes, fullback Ian Gray sustained an injured right leg and was replaced by dreadlocked Dexter Franklyn — who had an outstanding game — while Thomas, who wore the captain’s armband on the night, was sent off in the 29th after striking Connection’s playmaker Gefferson Goulart in an “off-the-ball” incident. Goulart would not return for the rest of the match with his team shockingly opting to play with ten men. Nonetheless, Connection had two chances to score, with Brazilians William Da Silva (39th) and Ronaldo Viana (46th) having shots blocked by Jabloteh goalkeeper Daurance Williams.

But Noray will make Connection pay for their mistakes in the 50th. After brilliant work by winger Josh Johnson to get past the challenge of Nicholson Thomas, his left-side centre was met by Noray who blasted home past keeper Alejandro Figueroa. Johnson, whose pace unsettled the Connection defence in the second period, missed two opportunities in the 57th and 61st while Da Silva’s 77th minute left-footed freekick whizzed past the upright. Cyd Gray was sent off in the 78th for a second bookable offence but his team held out for the title, and the cash prize amounting to over $70,000.

Jabloteh’s coach Terry Fenwick was jubilant following his team’s performance on the night. “We’re obviously delighted,” stressed the former England defender, who guided Jabloteh to the League title in 2002. “It is a statement to the rest of the league that we’re back, we’re up and running, we’re a team that’s getting better all the time and we know where you are, you know we’re coming.” And Connection’s tactician Reynold Carrington was disheartened by the result. “I think it was a hard loss for the team. “We fought well but we lost Gefferson Goulart and it made a big difference for us because that’s the strength of our attack,” added the ex-national player. “That’s how the game goes and we just have to congratulate Jabloteh for their victory.”

Teams: W CONNECTION: Alejandro Figueroa; Elijah Joseph, David Atiba Charles, Nicholson Thomas (Brenton De Leon 74th), William Da Silva; Romauld Aguillera (Clyde Leon 71st), Andrei Pacheco (Shane Calderon 56th), Ronaldo Viana, Gefferson Goulart; Andre Toussaint, Earl Jean (capt).
SAN JUAN JABLOTEH: Daurance Williams; Keyeno Thomas (capt), Ian Gray (Dexter Franklyn 12th), Nigel Daniel, Cyd Gray; Trent Noel, Otis Seaton, Kerry Baptiste (Devon Mitchell 78th), Josh Johnson; Kerry Noray, Nicholas Addlery (Kevaughn Connell 30th).