Crabs claw Maraval in Super League opener

DEFENDING champions L-Sporto Crab Connection signalled a warning to all opponents that they will not surrender their title as the 2004 National Super League began on Friday. “The Crabs” crushed Maraval Youth Academy 6-1 in the second match of a double-header at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo. Watched by a crowd estimated at 2,000, Crab Connection went on a five-goal blitz in the first half with three goals from 2003 Most Valuable Player Marlon Warner. Warner will later complete a beaver-trick in a game which turned out to be a mis-match, as the youthful Maraval lads were totally outplayed from start to finish.

Kevin Baptiste got the game’s opener in the seventh minute, tapping home from inside the six-yard box after the dreadlocked Marvin Oliver blew past Terrance Joseph on the left and sent a low cross to his goal-bound teammate. Oliver, sent clear by Michael Alexis on the right two minutes later, found Warner free in the 18-yard box, with the striker slamming his right-footer into the open goal. In the 29th, after an interchange between Sheldon Thomas and Oliver in the midfield, the ball was sent upfield to Warner on the left whose cross was hammered home by Alexis. The Maraval defence were unable to withstand Crabs counterattacks, and went 4-0 behind in the 31st. Warner capitalised on a defensive blunder, evaded the challenge of Seon Jack and, with goalkeeper Akintunde Felicien advancing, sent his left-footer between the legs of the bemused keeper.

Felicien failed to hold a Jason Sampson freekick in the 41st, leaving Warner to tap home into the vacant net, and Warner will later complete the rout in the 67th - from a backheel by substitute Warren Butler, he calmly shot past the flat-footed Felicien. Maraval pulled back one in the 56th, when a Jack freekick got an awkward bounce and went past a surprised Archim Persue. In the first match of Friday’s doubleheader, Superstar Rangers and Medianet East San Juan United battled to an exciting 3-3 draw. Rangers captain Colin Roberts scored a double, in the second and 90th minutes (penalty), while Todd Ryan netted in the 67th. Wendell Isaac also got a pair for San Juan (63rd and 65th) while Dexter Joslyn got the other in the sixth.

Police opened the season on a winning note, with a 2-1 triumph over Club Sando at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella while “the Eastern Lions” Joe Public were 2-0 winners over Angostura 1976 FC Phoenix at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Tunapuna. One match was contested yesterday, with WASA Clean & White edging Caroni 1-0 at Brechin Castle, Couva courtesy of a 14th minute strike from Brian Bain. Harvard and Carib were facing each other at Hasely Crawford Stadium up to press time last night.