Benjamin lifts Connection over Jabloteh

Benjamin equalised in the second half with a brilliant solo goal before being involved in two other items, scored by a Jabloteh shirt and substitute Jamal Charles—all after the visitors had grabbed the lead against the run of play from a converted penalty by Josiah Trimmingham in the first half.

The night’s appetiser also had its exciting moments, when Club Sando, in the earlier game were ruthless, defeating Police FC 4-0 for their second consecutive win on the trot.

Keron Cornwall scored on either side of the break for the Angus Eve-coached Sando, who also had second half items from midfielder Jarod London and substitute forward Adan Noel.

Connection, in the top of the table-clash, celebrated their final goal of the night deep in stoppage-time when substitute and Grenada international Jamal Charles buried his shot past Jabloteh goalkeeper Javon Sample for the 3-1 win after combining with Benjamin in the area.

But it wasn’t the best of nights in the finishing department for Connection, who should have won more comfortably.

Connection’s first half of missed chances included falling behind after 26 minutes.

Trimmingham had converted powerfully from the penalty spot for the San Juan Kings after referee Keilon Bacchus ruled that Connection defender Gerard Williams had brought down Jamaican midfielder Keithy Simpson in the area.

Jabloteh forward Julio Noel could have added to Connection’s miseries five minutes from the half when he fired overbar from inside the box after brilliantly controlling a Kion Joseph cross in mid-air. Moments after, Dimitri Apai curled an attempt onto the Jabloteh crossbar, and early in the second half, Benjamin, who previously fed the pass to the Suriname forward, took matters into his own hands.

The lightning-paced winger blew past Jabloteh’s Kennedy Hinkson in the area before chipping Sample in the 55th minute to level the scores.

Three minutes after, Benjamin found Alvin Jones inside the right of the area, and the latter’s fizzing pass across the six yard area cannoned off Trimmingham and into the back of the net.

Sample was hung out to dry by his defence in the final minute of stoppage time and scorer Jamal Charles and Benjamin led the celebration.