Williams saves Central in Charity Shield

This match, which is the curtain- raiser for the Pro League season, pits the League champs (Central FC) against the victorious team of the FA Trophy competition (Defence Force).

Defence Force did well to rally from 2-0 down to end regulation time locked at 2-2 with Central but, in the penalty shootout, Williams, a halftime substitute, came up trumps with three consecutive saves to decide the outcome.

After Devorn Jorsling and Leston Paul scored for Defence Force and Central respectively, Williams went to his right to deny Hashim Arcia’s try, low to his left to hold a tame effort from Jerwyn Balthazar and then stuck out his right hand to parry Marvin Jones’ kick.

Sean De Silva converted Central’s second kick while Marcus Joseph’s shot was pushed onto the crossbar by Andre Marchan. But Nicholas Dillon calmly scored his effort to guarantee the $10,000 jackpot for Central – the money will go towards a charity chosen by the winners. Earlier, a rampant Central went 2-0 up within the first five minutes of the contest.

The deadlock was broken in the second minute with midfielder Darren Mitchell hitting home a rebound after Marchan blocked a shot from Kenwyne Jones and, three minutes later, the national captain slotted home from close range after a feed from Joseph.

Jorsling trimmed the lead in the 18th, with a glancing header into the open net after goalie Javon Sample blocked a close-range drive from Levi Serries.

Arcia could have equalised in the 26th, after a give-and-go with Jorsling, but his shot was saved by an outstretched Sample.

Williams was called into action early in the second half, denying a shot from Arcia after a wellworked set-piece while, later in the contest, Kenwyne Jones met a cross from De Silva but his header went overbar.

Another Jones, Marvin (brother of national midfielder Joevin), played his part in Defence Force’s second, in the 89th. The rightback whipped in a ball which came off the body of Jorsling and Sean Narcis, at the back-post, saw his right-footer deflect of Kaydion Gabriel and Andre Ettienne before nestling into the back of the net.

Central FC, after making their three substitutions, were forced to play the dying moments with 10 men as new signing Robert Primus (from Morvant Caledonia United) had to be taken to the locker room with a right knee injury. But Williams ensured that Primus’ absence was not felt, in the penalty shootout.