Jabloteh, Connection notch 5-0 wins

LEADERS CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh and challengers W Connection both scored handsome 5-0 victories as the 21st round of the TT Pro League was played yesterday. Jabloteh crushed cellar-placed Tobago United at Shaw Park, Scarborough, while Connection trounced Defence Force at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo. Five national Under-23 and senior players were on target for Jabloteh as they maintained a six-point edge over Connection. Kerry Baptiste scored in the 26th minute, Nigel Daniel 47th, Michael Celestine 55th, Otis Seaton 60th and Travis Mulraine 67th for the San Juan-based team. The “Eastern Lions” Joe Public got  their third win in a row, a 2-0 triumph over South Starworld Strikers at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya, Tunapuna. Midfielder Sterling O’Brien opened the scoring in the 31st minute, while goalkeeper-turned-midfielder Michael McComie added the second in the 75th, five minutes after making an appearance as a substitute.

Jerron Nixon continued his prolific form, scoring North East Stars’ winner in the 83rd minute, following a Carey Harris strike in the 51st, as Sangre Grande-based team edged South West Institute of Football (SWIF) 2-1 at the Palo Seco Recreation Ground. Marlon Lewis pulled one back for SWIF in the 87th. And goals from Akil Guevara, Ashford Legerton, Ramould Aguillera and Handel Manswell gave Arima Fire a 4-2 victory over struggling “Stallions” Caledonia AIA at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Arima. At the Hasely Crawford Stadium, the Savonetta lads held a comfortable 2-0 halftime lead against a Defence Force team which struggled to match Connection’s pace and stamina. National striker Kendall Davis scored in the 20th minute and midfielder Ronaldo Viana in the 27th, while Gefferson Goulart got into the act in the 54th, chipping an advancing goalkeeper Selwyn George following a back-heeled pass from Titus Elva inside the penalty box. Kevin Williams had Defence Force’s best attempt, with his deflected right-side centre smashing the bar in the 66th, but the goal of the day came in the 81st. After substitute Kerwyn “Hardest” Jemmott was brought down by defender Kelshall Alexander, TT Under-20 left-back Anton Joseph thundered his left-footed free-kick from 25 metres past a diving George. And Jemmott completed the scoring in stoppage time, slamming his left-footer past George’s despairing lunge.