Police held by Point Fortin Civic

The opening game at Couva saw Ma Pau Stars move up four spots to third after a comfortable victory over Rangers, with goals by a trio of former Trinidad and Tobago strikers - Anthony Wolfe (16th), Jason Scotland (30th) and Kerry Baptiste (75th).

Rangers ended the game with 10 players, as Devon Modeste was sent off in the 51st.

The second match saw end to end drama throughout, but both teams were left to rue chances to claim three points on the night.

After a sedate opening period, Point Fortin took a two-goal lead, in the space of three minutes, courtesy of striker Jamille Boatswain.

In the 23rd minute, Boatswain got a through ball from central midfielder Shaquille Stewart and, with Police goalkeeper Adrian Foncette rushing out of the penalty box, the Point Fortin forward dribbled around the goalie and retreating defender Jibri McDavid, and slotted his left-footed effort into the open net.

Police’s coach Richard Hood was visibly upset at his team’s horrendous defending, and things got worse in the 25th. An unmarked Boatswain got a ball from the left by Kestwin Goolie and slotted his right-footed shot past a stranded Foncette.

By then, the lawmen were forced to make two changes due to injury, but they had a couple chances to reduce the deficit in the first half.

In the 28th, referee Rashby McPhie awarded Police a penalty for a push on McDavid by Civic goalie Miles Goodman during a corner-kick.

However, Police captain Todd Ryan’s effort was saved by Goodman, who moved to his left to deny the central midfielder.

Midfielder Christon Thomas broke the offside trap to collect a ball from McDavid, but he took an eternity to control the ball and his shot was smothered by Goodman.

Two minutes later (42nd), Police reduced the deficit, with one of the best goals scored this season.

Substitute Joshua Leach made a diagonal run to his left and, from nearly 30 metres, he unleashed a thunderous left-footer which grazed the left-hand of Goodman before nestling at the top right-hand corner of the net.

Boatswain muffed two chances, in the 44th and 48th, to complete his hat-trick, and those misses proved costly as Police equalised, on the hour mark.

After Thomas was upended by defender Shevhon Abraham, Ryan’s freekick was spilled by Goodman, who was alert to save the rebound Nequan Caruth.

However, the ball fell loose in the six-yard box and Kaaron Foster was on hand to bundle the ball home.

Police had the better of the exchanges thereafter, but failed to net the winner.

In the 77th, Goodman did well to tip a right-footed blast from Leach overbar while, five minutes later, the substitute drilled a shot against the crossbar, with the goalie beaten.

And, in the dying minutes, Ryan saw his right-footer cannon off the bar, but Kenaz Williams, with the goalie at his mercy, hit the rebound wide off the mark.

On Friday, also at Couva, Central FC thrashed Defence Force 4-1 while W Connection edged Club Sando 2-1. And, on Sunday, San Juan Jabloteh got past Morvant Caledonia United 4-1 at the Morvant Recreation Ground.

Round One Match Day Four action will be contested from October 21-25.