Jabloteh stop Connection’s win streak

CL FINANCIAL San Juan Jabloteh proved that they will not allow W Connection to remain dominant this season when they ended Connection’s unbeaten T&T Pro League run on Saturday. At the Larry Gomes Stadium, Arima, Jabloteh edged the “Savonetta Boys” 1-0 to jump to second spot on the standings, and reducing Connection’s lead to seven points. The match was decided in the 69th minute, when Connection’s wall blocked a Nigel Daniel’s freekick, but Devon Mitchell collected the loose ball on left and crossed to Josh Johnson, whose lob sailed over the head of Connection’s goalkeeper Jan-Michael Williams and into the back of the net.

Jabloteh had two chances to widen the lead — in the 71st, Johnson chested a Daniel’s deep cross to the path of Trent Noel but his right-footed blast went wide while, five minutes later, Johnson collected a feed from Kerry Noray but sent his shot overbar. Temperamental midfielder Gefferson Goulart had two opportunities to find the target, both after terrible lapses by keeper Daurance Williams. In the 49th, Williams casually retrieved the ball (after the Connection’s attack re-acted to an offside call) and sent it straight to Goulart whose 30-metre effort missed the post by inches. And, in the 86th, Williams ran out of the penalty box to block a Kendall Davis’ run, but Goulart was on hand to get the loose ball, but his attempted chip was headed off the line by fullback Dexter Franklyn.

Defence Force rebounded from a 7-0 drubbing by Jabloteh last week to defeat United Petrotrin 3-2 at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella. Anton Joseph, Ronald Boyce and Kevon Carter were the marksmen for the Army-Coast Guard combination while Kevin Hernandez and Brent Garcia scored for Petrotrin. Tobago United earned their first point in the season when they courageously battled back from a 3-0 deficit to draw 3-3 against 2004 champs North East Stars at the Dwight Yorke Stadium, Bacolet. Captain Anthony Wolfe opened the scoring with a 23rd minute freekick while Guyanese midfielder Carey Harris added a pair, in the 43rd and 48th minutes. But the hosts showed a lot of determination, with strikes from Ashford Legerton (53rd), Ancil Williams (76th) and Ancil George (90th) to salvage a point against the struggling North East.

STANDINGS
                                 P W D L F     A   Pts
W Connection 8 7 0 1 28 5 21
San Juan Jabloteh 8 4 2 2 22 6 14
Defence Force 8 4 2 2 17 16 14
Caledonia AIA/Fire 7 4 1 2 10 9 13
North East Stars 7 3 2 2 12 13 11
United Petrotrin 8 1 0 7 8 24 3
Tobago United 8 0 1 7 10 34 1