W Connection whip Army to stay alive

W CONNECTION remained in contention for the top spot in the T&T Pro League football competition with a 2-0 triumph over fourth-placed Defence Force at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar, Arima. Their 19th league victory on Monday night saw Connection (64 points) narrow CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh’s (71) lead atop the standings to seven points.

The lads from Savonetta held control of proceedings from the get-go, with D/Force goalkeeper Cleon John doing well to hold a Gefferson Goulart header after 32 minutes. After a 53rd minute move involving Goulart and Arnold Dwarika, national Under-23 striker Kendall Davis saw his shot blocked by John. But John could do nothing to prevent the opening goal by Dwarika in the 64th when Goulart sent substitute striker Jason Marcano clear on the left and his one-time cross was headed home, on the run, by the dreadlocked Dwarika. From a Marcano pass in the 74th, national youth team player Kenwyne Jones skied his shot overbar, from eight yards out while defender Kelshall Alexander was forced to clear a Dwarika goal-bound shot two minutes later. Jones will atone for his earlier miss in the 80th when, after a one-two with Marcano, he drilled his left-footer past John. Defence Force saw an 84th minute goal disallowed for offside by referee Robin Murray, after Owen Matthews evaded debutant Roderick Anthony on the left and squared to striker Sherman “Ants” Phillips to hit home.

In the evening’s other encounter, “The Stallions” Caledonia AIA swapped places with Arima Fire on the standings, pushing Fire down to eighth spot, by virtue of a 2-1 win. Nigel Hart gave the Stallions the lead in the 11th minute, slamming his left-footer past goalie Peter Ramon-Fortune in a counter-attack. Fire went all out for the equaliser, with defender Uz Taylor sending his 24th minute freekick inches overbar, while striker Brent Antoine saw his 28th minute shot held by goalkeeper Kagiso Tshelameste and, a minute later, the Botswana-born keeper tipped a 20-metre drive from Elliot James overbar. Substitute striker Ashford Legerton muffed a golden opportunity in the 47th, tapping wide off the open net while an Antoine goal in the 54th was disallowed by referee Lee Davis for a handled-ball. But the Stallions got the winner after 63 minutes —- a long ball from midfielder Densil Theobald found Abdullah Phillips on the right and the striker calmly lobbed the ball over the advancing Ramon-Fortune.