CENTRAL FC, AC POS OFF TO WINNING STARTS
CENTRAL FC, AC POS OFF TO WINNING STARTS
Central FC made a winning start to their TT Premier Football League (TTPFL) campaign as they defeated W Connection 2-0 in the opening fixture at Mahaica Sports Complex in Point Fortin on Friday.
A goal in each half from strikers Akeem Roach and Keron “Ball Pest” Cummings separated the teams as W Connection struggled to place shots on target. Rustiness showed in the opening minutes as players sought to get back in groove after a three-year absence of domestic football.
The Savonetta Boys dominated the early stages but Central FC soon found their footing on the dry and dusty turf. W Connection’s Jordan Riley and Ronald Charles tried to create but the Central FC backline stood firm. Connection’s Joash Baird was unable to capitalise on a free header as his effort went wide.But when Central FC got possession, they gained confidence and began to threaten the opposing defence.
W Connection defender Nesean Alexander received a yellow card in the 17th minute after bringing down surging Central FC player Ricardo John, who was certain to go one-on-one with custodian Shakeem Darius if he wasn’t impeded. Central FC continued to press and were soon rewarded when Roach latched on to a pass to slot past Darius into the far corner, to send the Sharks 1-0 up in the 33rd minute.
Just before halftime, Central FC’s Jerrel Britto almost made it 2-0 but his spectacular overhead kick flew just overbar. At the resumption, Central FC looked a renewed unit and were presented with another chance to extend their lead after Cummings was fouled in the penalty area by defender Dwight Pope.
Cummings stepped up and rifled home to take a 2-0 lead.
W Connection showed more fight in the second period but Central FC matched their aggression and strung together more passes with confidence. The Sharks’ Kyle Sylvester had a good chance to send them further ahead but he was unable to find power behind his shot, after a well-threaded pass from Cummings down the right.
Central FC goalie Hakeem Lucas was rarely tested.
In the final minutes, Tevon De Boulet was in on goal but had his shot blocked by Darius’ left foot to keep the score at 2-0.
Central FC assistant coach Julius Edwards was happy to snag the three points on their return to the professional football.
“It was very important as a new team now meshing together. It was a very beautiful day for us getting this victory.
“Discipline was one of our problems in the first half and you see we came out in the second half in a better frame of mind, and we kept our shape together.
“We had to make sure they didn’t get back into the game because they are a very young team. We’re going back to the drawing board because there were some spurts in the game where we could have done a little better,” Edwards said.
Central FC play Jabloteh next and Edwards believes a different approach will have to be taken since they possess more senior players compared to W Connection.
“Jabloteh is a more experienced team so we have to switch things up a bit for them,” he added.
Up to press time last night, the second fixture between Club Sando and hometown favourites Point Fortin Civic Centre was still ongoing. At half time, Club Sando led 1-0.
Prior to the opening kickoff, a small opening ceremony was held with some steelpan music and soca artiste Olatunji performing his 2023 hit Engine Room.
CALEDONIA START WITH A WIN
Morvant Caledonia Utd got their campaign off to a winning start defeating Cunupia FC 2-0 at Arima Velodrome in round one of the TT Premier Football League on Sunday.
First half goals by Osafa Simpson and Sean Bonval were enough to give Caledonia the victory in the first match of a doubleheader at the venue. The match between Prison Service FC and San Juan Jabloteh, the final match of round one, finished after press time on Sunday.
AC PORT OF SPAIN OUTGUN ARMY
AC Port of Spain began their quest in the TT Premier Football League with an emphatic 3-0 victory against powerhouse Defence Force on Saturday at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar.
The Teteron Boys created most of the goal-scoring chances in the first half but had nothing to show on the scoresheet for their efforts.
In the 9th minute, Army’s Rivaldo Coryat had a glorious opportunity to open his team’s account but his shot went wide of an outstretched goalkeeper Jadel Poon-Lewis.
Five minutes later Army thought they finally took the lead but Brent Sam’s free-kick blasted off the upright of Poon Lewis’ goal.
Referee Crystal Sobers awarded AC POS a penalty after Defence Force’s goalkeeper Isaiah Malik Williams fouled a player while attempting a clearance.
National midfielder Duane Muckette buried the spot kick sending goalie Williams in the wrong direction for the 1-0 nil lead in the 36th minute.
AC extended their lead within the first minute of the second period of the match. Forward Jaydon Prowell ran unto a threaded the ball to expertly finish past keeper Williams for the 2-0 cushion
Since the second goal, the game was stretched in the midfield and scrappy at times. Army were seeking that elusive goal to keep their hopes alive but AC absorbed all the pressure and was solid in their defence.
Attacking midfielder Che Benny rubbed salt into the wounds of his opponents scoring in the 94th minute with a well-taken left-footed shot to end the match 3-0 and collect their first three points of the campaign.
On Friday, in the second match of the league’s opening day doubleheader, Point Fortin Civic Centre and Tiger Tanks Club Sando played to a 1-1 result at Mahaica Sports Complex in Point Fortin.
Club Sando’s Josiah Cooper opened the scoring in the 11th minute after he latched on to a well-placed free-kick into the box from Kevon Williams, past goalkeeper Miles Goodman.
In the 78th minute, Point Fortin’s Nathaniel Garcia headed a heavy hit corner back into the penalty box which fell nicely for Ronell Paul to rifle home the equaliser beyond the outstretched arms of Jabari Gray.
Club Sando started nicely and threatened early on. But the home team also pressed and had Nathaniel Garcia’s long-range effort go wide as they upped the ante. Minutes later, Cooper scored, with the entire defensive backline flatfooted.
Club Sando skipper Acelino Medford received a yellow card in the 25th minute just outside his team’s penalty area but Garcia, who took the free kick, was unable to capitalise.
Chances came few and far between for the remainder of the first period as both teams cancelled each other out as they battled along a dusty surface.
At the resumption, the home team looked better and began creating more chances in front of goal. Their persistence paid off as Paul’s 78th-minute strike saw the home fans breathe a sigh of relief as they drew level.
Club Sando could have gone ahead once more in the 89th minute but Terrell Rajoon’s shot into an open goal was cleared off the line by a Civic player.
When the dust settled, 1-1 it remained after each team’s opening TTPFL fixture.
In the earlier match, Central FC defeated W Connection 2-0.
