Defence Force , W Connection advance to Goal Shield final

The Ross Russell-coached squad will return to Marabella to face W Connection in the final of the inaugural competition on June 26.

After a handful of chances, combined, for both teams, Carter broke the deadlock in the 45th minute.

Jerwyn Balthazar’s diagonal pass to Kerry Joseph was sent into the penalty box where it was poorly-cleared by central defender Anthony Noreiga, and Carter’s subsequent tap-in was cleared off the line by Cyd Gray. But an alert Balthazar tracked down the loose ball and fed Carter who made amends, inside the six-yard box.

Nigel Daniel replied for Petrotrin in the 53rd, with a deflected right-footed curler to the top right-hand corner of Kevin Graham’s net after Kennedy Hinkson was upended by Anton Pierre.

Devon Jorsling had a wonderful chance to restore Defence Force’s lead in the 76th, as he had a one-and-one opportunity with Glenroy Samuel but the goalkeeper came up trumps.

Jorsling will atone for that miss a minute later, finishing off a neat move – started by Joseph on the right whose deep cross was headed to Jorsling by Balthazar – with a powerful right-footer off the body of Samuel.

Carter saved the best for last in the 84th, collecting a clearance from his captain Michael Edwards and, after timing his run to perfection, he left Petrotrin centre-backs Noreiga and Makan Hislop for dead before a pin-point finish to the left of the advancing Samuel.

Teams –

DEFENCE FORCE: Kevin Graham; Anton Pierre, Keston Williams, Michael Edwards (capt), Corey Rivers; Sean Narcis, Jerwyn Balthazar, Kerry Joseph, Christopher Durity (Owen Matthew 70th); Devon Jorsling (Ronald St Louis 80th), Kevon Carter (Richard Roy 87th).

UNITED PETROTRIN: Glenroy Samuel; Makan Hislop, Anthony Noreiga, Nigel Daniel, Cyd Gray (capt); Ghymo Harper, Devon Caseman (Trent Lougheed 79th), Kwame Wiltshire (Simeon Augustus 46th), Kennedy Hinkson, Aurtis Whitley (Stephan Campbell 75th); Gary Glasgow.