Central secure First Citizens title

Devorn Jorsling fired Defence Force in front after 10 minutes, after a defensive breakdown by Central, who were on the back foot for most of the first half.

But Dwight Quintero headed Central FC back on even terms on the stroke of halftime, before new national striker Rundell Winchester continued his impressive form of late with a powerful left-footed winner, in the 86th.

From their semi-final line-ups, Jorsling replaced Richard Roy up front for Defence Force while suspended Central FC captain Jason Marcano and forward Hector Sam made way for Kaydion Gabriel and Quintero.

Defence Force, who have been at the losing end in a number of knockout finals recently, came out the blocks firing and their attacking quartet of Jorsling, Kevon Carter, Kerry Joseph and Josimar Belgrave, had the Central defenders on their toes in the early phase of the contest. After seven minutes, Carter, operating from the left flank, picked out Jorsling and the striker sent Belgrave free on goal, but his attempted toe-poke was held on the second attempt by Jan-Michael Williams.

But Jorsling, in his first start of the season, gave his team a deserved lead, pouncing on a deflection by a defender from Belgrave’s pass and drilling his left-footer beyond the reach of Williams.

Defence Force had a few chances to extend the score-line, none more so than in the 37th minute.

Belgrave sprayed the ball wide to Joseph on the right who then sent a dangerous cross to the penalty box. Central defender Akeem Benjamin’s muffed clearance saw the ball hit an unmarked Carter before heading out of play.

Against the run of play, Central were back on level terms, with Winchester sending a cross from the left flank and Quintero met the ball before goalkeeper Kevin Graham could punch and headed it into the open net.

Central, with evergreen midfielder and stand-in skipper Marvin Oliver dictating terms, slowed the tempo considerably in the second half.

Defence Force had a moment to regain the lead in the 53rd, but a sliding Carter was unable to get a touch to Joseph’s cross from the right.

There were a few half chances before Winchester, with national coaches Stephen Hart and his deputy Hutson Charles in attendance, atoned for an indifferent first half with a fantastic game-clinching goal.

Johan Peltier made a dart down the left before squaring the ball to Winchester at the edge of the penalty area and, given space by centre-back Rodell Elcock, unleashed a left-footed drive which sailed to the top left-hand corner of Graham’s net.

During the prize-giving ceremony, Winchester was adjudged the Most Valuable Player (MVP) and San Juan Jabloteh’s captain and forward Kerry Baptiste was named as the leading goal-scorer with three goals.

Teams –

CENTRAL FC: Jan-Michael Williams; Jamal Jack, Akeem Benjamin, Keion Goodridge, Elton John; Marvin Oliver (capt), Kaydion Gabriel (Toric Robinson 54th), Darren Mitchell (Keon Trim 76th), Johan Peltier, Rundell Winchester; Dwight Quintero (Dwight Pope 88th).

DEFENCE FORCE: Kevin Graham; Rodell Elcock, Devin Jordan (Curtis Gonzales 46th), Aklie Edwards, Marvin Jones; Corey Rivers (capt) (Keston Williams 59th), Sean Narcis, Kevon Carter, Kerry Joseph, Josimar Belgrave (Richard Roy 78th); Devorn Jorsling.