Caledonia take top spot in Pro League

Caledonia, on a three-game winning streak, have a two-point lead over San Juan Jabloteh, with Joe Public, who only suffered their second loss of the season, remaining in third position on the 11-team standings.

Right-back Kareem Joseph put Caledonia in front after 10 minutes, due to a crucial lapse by his ex-teammate Michael Woods. The goalie, who moved to Joe Public during the off-season, saw Joseph’s 20-metre drive hit his wrists, sail past his right and into the back of the net.

National team coach Russell Latapy, making his third start in a row, could have widened the score-line 10 minutes later, but he shot straight at Woods after a nice run down the left flank by Walter Moore.

Joe Public’s leading marksman Kerry Baptiste registered his 19th goal of the season when, in the 31st minute, he drilled a close-range right-footer into the empty net after Akiel Guevara’s shot, from the edge of the penalty area, was parried by an outstretched Dwayne Sandy.

The hosts started a new signing, national Under-20 midfielder Marcus Joseph, who joined from FC South End, but his fellow winger, Micah Lewis, could have put Joe Public ahead on the stroke of half-time, as he got between Moore and Keon Daniel but saw his effort denied by Sandy.

Both teams played cautiously throughout the second half until the 80th minute, when Caledonia regained the lead.

After a tough tackle on substitute Kerry Daniel by Joe Public’s wingback Marvin Manswell, Moore swung in a freekick from the left and, with the defence motionless, Caledonia’s veteran captain Charles Pollard simply headed to the left of a frozen Woods.

Midfielder Kerry Daniel, who replaced the ineffective Keyon Edwards shortly after the goal, saved the best for last with a wonderful blast in the 85th, playing a one-two with the evergreen Kendall Velox (a 72nd minute swap for Latapy) and, with lots of room, drilled a 25-metre rocket to the left of the despairing Woods.

Joe Public’s centre-back Keyeno Thomas pulled one back in the dying seconds, hitting home from 10 metres out after Jean-Luc Rochford found fellow sub, and national Under-20 midfielder Daniel Cyrus who, in turn, crossed to Thomas, who was in the Caledonia’s penalty box from an earlier corner.

At the Larry Gomes Stadium in Malabar, Ma Pau whipped Tobago 2-0 with the prolific Tobago-born striker Trevin Caesar finding the back of the net in the 69th minute while ex-national utility player Anthony Wolfe sealing the win a minute later.

Defence Force leapt over the inactive United Petrotrin for sixth spot after getting the better of South End by a similar 2-0 margin, in the first game of a double-header at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva, with Jerwyn Balthazar (24th) and Devon Jorsling (30th) on target.

St Ann’s Rangers ended a five-game losing streak as they earned a come-from-behind 2-1 triumph over Police, in the latter encounter at Couva.

Hayden Jones gave Police a third minute lead before midfielder Adrian Narine equalised 10 minutes later, while Devon Modeste’s 20th minute item proved to be decisive.

The scheduled clash between Jabloteh and arch-rivals W Connection was postponed due to both teams’ participation in this week’s Preliminary Round First Leg of the CONCACAF Champions League.

Jabloteh travelled to Panama to face San Francisco FC last night (while, tonight, W Connection will host New York Red Bulls from the United States MLS.

STANDINGS

Teams Pl W D L F A Pts

Caledonia AIA 13 9 1 3 33 17 28

San Juan Jabloteh 12 8 2 2 19 13 26

Joe Public 13 7 4 2 32 18 25

Ma Pau 14 7 2 5 20 14 23

W Connection 12 5 4 3 15 12 19

Defence Force 13 4 5 4 16 13 17

United Petrotrin 11 3 6 2 11 8 15

St Ann’s Rangers 13 3 2 8 17 32 11

FC South End 12 2 3 7 8 19 9

Police 13 2 3 8 13 31 9

Tobago United 12 1 4 7 13 20 7