Central FC capture Digicel Charity Shield

Central FC, with Ross Russell involved in his first game on home soil as the team’s coach, triumphed 1-0 in the fourth edition of the competition, at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva.

The Charity Shield features the winners of the Digicel Pro League and the Digicel Pro Bowl. Central FC were triumphant in both contests last season so Connection, the league runners-up, featured in Friday’s fixture.

Ettienne, a hard-nosed central defender who moved to Central from Point Fortin Civic FC during the off-season, produced a clinical finish to seal the deal in a game which was played at a moderate pace.

Both Central and Connection will be involved in CONCACAF Champions League action this week, hence the players gave the appearances that they were not keen to risk injury in a low-key affair.

Midfielder Jomal Williams tested the Central goal with a drive from 25 metres out which nearly put Connection ahead after eight minutes but the midfielder earned a penalty for his team in the 23rd, when he was bundled over, close to the touch-line, by Ataullah Guerra.

Referee Rodphin Harris pointed to the penalty spot but central defender and captain Alvin Jones blazed his right-footer overbar.

Central FC seemed redeemed by that let-off and started to assert themselves.

In the 34th, evergreen midfielder Marvin Oliver played a magnificent defence-splitting pass to striker Willis Plaza who skipped past a challenge from centre-back Maurice Ford but saw his tame shot blocked by goalkeeper Julani Archibald.

A minute later, midfielder Marcus Joseph (who, like Ettienne, made the switch from Point Fortin) was given space in the middle and smashed the post with his left-footed drive.

Connection had a pair of chances to break the deadlock, with forward Dimitrie Apai unable to convert from Williams neat pass on the right and Briel Thomas heading Kurt Frederick’s corner towards goal but defender Kaydion Gabriel cleared the ball off the line.

The second half was meandering nowhere before Ettienne struck. Substitute Jason Marcano’s corner was badly dealt with, by his teammates as well as the Connection defence, and the defender created space and unleashed a low right-footer which nestled past a stunned Archibald and into the bottom left-hand corner.

Connection did not seem to have any fight left in them and Central controlled the tempo until the final whistle.

As is the case with the Charity Shield, the winners make a charitable donation to a worthy organisation, and this year the successful group is ALTA (Adult Literacy Tutors Association), who will get the $10,000 jackpot from Central FC.

Teams – CENTRAL FC: Jan-Michael Williams (capt); Jamal Jack, Andre Ettienne, Kevon Villaroel, Kaydion Gabriel; Elton John, Marvin Oliver, Ataullah Guerra (Nathaniel Garcia 78th), Darren Mitchell (Nicholas Dillon 84th), Marcus Joseph (Jason Marcano 65th); Willis Plaza (Jem Gordon 89th).

W CONNECTION: Julani Archibald; Maurice Ford, Alvin Jones (capt), Kurt Frederick, Shannon Gomez; Gerard Williams, Briel Thomas (Kevon Goddard 55th), Jomal Williams; Dimitrie Apai (Aikim Andrews 55th), Stiven Concha (Jabari Mitchell 46th), Jhonathan Gherherdt (Neil Benjamin 70th).