De Silva powers Central FC past Defence Force

De Silva, the “Couva Sharks” captain and one of the few surviving players of last season’s historic three-peat champions, scored an uninterrupted second- half double, netting in the 64th and 73rd minutes. Johan Peltier and Nathaniel Garcia completed the comfortable Central win with goals in the 79th and 84th minutes respectively in the second game of a double-header at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo.

The result moved coach Dale Saunders’ men — attempting to rewrite history with a fourth consecutive league crown this term — up a spot into third, where they trail rivals W Connection and North East Stars by two points and are tied on seven points with San Juan Jabloteh, who were due to face MIC-IT St Ann’s Rangers yesterday at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Arima.

Simultaneously, North East Stars were celebrating a third straight win courtesy a narrow 1-0 victory over visitors Morvant Caledonia United at the Arima Velodrome to go level on nine points with leaders Connection.

Former Central FC forward Rundell Winchester netted his second consecutive winner for North East Stars, three minutes before the break.

The 23-year-old lightning- paced Tobagonian forward beat Morvant Caledonia goalkeeper Glenroy Samuel to a ball in the box before heading into an open net.

Derek King’s side remained unchanged from Tuesday’s 2-1 win over Defence Force in Couva and provided the Arima fans — who turned up in the hundreds again — another three points.

Morvant Caledonia (four points), despite being an improved side this season, were again let down by another mistake and slipped a spot into sixth, one point behind Police FC, who climbed two spots with their first ever league win over W Connection under coach Richard Hood.

Defender Gerard Williams scored an own goal, in the 55th, to end Connection’s unbeaten run. Elsewhere Point Fortin Civic picked up their first point this season after four attempts, holding visitors Club Sando to a 1-1 draw at Mahaica Oval.

Kevon Piper had put Sando ahead on 33 minutes but two minutes later Kevin Rouse levelled Civic, who must next travel to Ato Boldon Stadium against Defence Force on July 11. (ttproleague.com)