North East Stars dim Jabloteh 2-0

NORTH EAST STARS ended CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh’s 20-match unbeaten run yesterday, defeating the 2002 TT Pro League champs 2-0 at the Sangre Grande Recreation Ground.

Ace striker Randolph Jerome and Kayode McKinnon were on target for the hosts, who inflicted on Jabloteh their first loss of the season.With Jabloteh’s setback, W Connection trimmed the lead to nine points after they were held to a 1-1 draw by South Starworld Strikers at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella. National Under-23 captain Silvio Spann gave Connection a 36th minute lead before midfielder Marc Borde levelled the scores in the 69th.

Another shock result came at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar, Arima, with the “Stallions” Caledonia AIA breezing past Defence Force 3-1. On the stroke of halftime, Ryan Stewart gave the Stallions the lead, with forward Nigel Hart doubling the advantage in the 72nd. Abdullah Phillip put the match beyond the reach of the Army-Coast Guard combination in the 77th, even though captain Kurt Williams successfully converted a penalty for the Teteron lads five minutes from time. And Arima Fire also found themselves on the losing end, going under 2-1 to the “Eastern Lions” Joe Public at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo. In front of a sprinkling of supporters, Fire’s striker Akiel Guevara saw his 40th minute rightfooter crash off the uprights, with Joe Public’s goalkeeper Kevin Graham scrambling to recover the ball before it crossed the line.

Joe Public’s midfielder Garvin McKenna was sent off by referee Ramesh Ramdhan in the 45th for a foul on Anthony Haynes. But the Lions struck first in the 56th, with a Seon Power penalty sending goalie Peter Ramon-Fortune the wrong way after Sean Christmas was brought down by Darryl James. Guevara netted Fire’s equaliser eight minutes later, powering his left-footed volley, from a Brent Antoine centre, past Graham, but Joe Public got the winner courtesy Andre Toussaint in the 74th, tapping home from six yards out after Ramon-Fortune failed to hold a right side centre from Sterling O’Brien.

Under-20 Results: SAN JUAN JABLOTEH (4) - Jerol Forbes 3, Wendell Joseph vs NORTH EAST STARS (0); ARIMA FIRE (3) - Darril Toussaint 3 vs JOE PUBLIC (2) - Odelle Armstrong, Ochieng Abosi; CALEDONIA AIA (5) - Ellis Dyette 2, Hyron Browne-Baptiste 2, Sterling Arjoon vs DEFENCE FORCE (4) - Keston Greene 2, Jhamal Simmons, Shanton Ollivierre; W CONNECTION (2) - Akil Pierre, Kyle Cupid vs STARWORLD STRIKERS (1).