CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh, moved five points clear at the top of the Professional Football League standings with a come from behind 4-3 victory over Arima Fire in a 15th round match at the Concacaf Centre of Excellence, Macoya yesterday.

 Kittian striker Keith Gumbs scored the winner seven minutes from full time to send Jabloteh to 31 points, ahead of second place Vibe CT 105 W Connection who could only muster a 0-0 draw with Doc's Khelwalaas at Frederick Settlement, Caroni.
 Reigning champions Defence Force pulled off a 3-2 victory over Police at the Arima Municipal Stadium to move to 24 points.

 Sherman Phillips (27th), Jason Scotland (43rd) and David George (53rd) were the Army's goalscorers with Kurt Danclair (5th) and Alvin Boisson (74th) getting the goals for the Lawmen.

 Army are now third on the table, ahead of Joe Public on goal difference. Public scored a narrow 1-0 win over Caledonia AIA on Friday. On a heavy field at Macoya, Jabloteh went 1-0 ahead in the 12th minute through Colombian David Villaquiran.

 They maintained that lead until the 33rd minute when Shelton Williams got his first of a double by hitting a free kick which took a deflection past goalkeeper Alejandro Figueroa.

 Fire then grabbed a 43rd minute 2-1 lead through Williams.

 Former national midfielder Marvin Faustin tied the scores at 3-3 five minutes after half time when he collected a ball from the left and hit a powerful effort which took a deflection past Fire 'keeper Michael Woods.

 Fire didn't give up and got their equaliser ten minutes from the end when Devon Mitchell headed past Figueroa from a free kick.

 However, the Firemen's celebrations were short-lived as three minutes later Gumbs turned hero by chipping over Woods for the winner.

 Jabloteh (31 points) stand ahead of Connection (26), Army (24), Public (24), Caledonia (16), Doc's (15), Police (15) and Fire (14).

 Action in the PFL takes a break this week to facilitate the national team's preparations for Sunday's World Cup qualifier against Canada.

By MARK POUCHET

THE wet conditions at the João Havelange Centre of Excellence were not suitable for a good fire. But PFL leaders CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh used them sufficiently well to put a damper on Arima Fire’s hopes of moving from the bottom of the table.

Jabloteh’s David Villaquiran, Marvin Faustin, Dale Saunders and Keith Gumbs each made sure with their strikes that the double from Arima’s Shelton Williams and Devon Mitchell did not matter.

The 4-3 victory extended their advantage in the PFL race because across at Caroni, second-placed Vibe CT W Connection were held to a goalless draw by Doc’s Khelwalaas.

And at Arima Municipal Stadium, in the battle of the armed forces, Defence Force edged Police 3-2. The result lifted the Army/Coast Guard combination above Joe Public to third spot.

But back at Macoya, Jabloteh’s desire and skill were enough to get by a determined Arima outfit.

Coach Ron La Forest’s side signalled their intentions as early as the 1st minute when Arima defender Dave Charles was at full stretch, making a goalline clearance to deny Villaquiran’s effort, from the centre of the penalty area.

That early chance gave captain Saunders and his men encouragement to keep attacking. And this hunger for a goal eventually got them one in the 12th minute.

A deep left side throw found Ralston James with Charles on him. And when Arima captain Hewlyn Caesar come over to help, the tall Jabloteh striker laid off to Villaquiran who blasted one-time from the top left hand corner of the Arima 18-metre box into Woods’s right vee.

The way the game had gone up to that moment may have reminded Arima of their recent 7-2 PFL Cup loss to the same team. Fire, however, were not ready to go out as yet.

Mitchell and Williams were making good diagonal runs at the front. And during one such run, Otis Seaton was lured into cutting Mitchell down at the top of the Jabloteh area. And Williams’ left-footed freekick completely wrong-footed goalkeeper Alejandro Figueroa when it deflected off Daleon Sinnette’s back, into the net. That was after 33 minutes.

Encouraged by the equaliser, Williams then dribbled straight down the middle of the Jabloteh defence. His tame-looking shot somehow slipped by Figueroa.

After the half, though, Faustin left Arima less pleased when his low left-footed blast found the net. A quarter hour later, Saunders unleashed a rocket from the “D” that Woods could only watch blow past him for a 3-2 lead.

Arima never gave up though, and Mitchell headed home the 81st minute equaliser past an advancing Figueroa from Handel Manwell’s freekick.

But Gumbs contrived to break Arima down one last time with a deft chip that produced the winner.

Scores:
CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh 4 (David Villaquiran 12th, Marvin Faustin 50th, Dale Saunders 61st, Keith Gumbs 83rd) Arima Fire 3 ( Shelton Williams 2, 33rd, 43rd, Devon Mitchell 81st)

Vibe CT 105 W Connection 0 Doc’s Khelwalaas 0

Defence Force 3 (Sherman Phillips, Jason Scotland, David George) Police 2 (Curt Danclaire, Alvin Boisson)

 JOE Public had to depend on Nigel Pierre's 76th minute strike to avoid defeat against Caledonia AIA in a 1-1 draw in a 15th round Professional Football League match at the Concacaf Centre of Excellence, Macoya on Friday night.

 Going into the match with hopes of obtaining full points, to narrow the gap between themselves and leaders CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh (28 points), the "Eastern Lions" moved up to 24 points, one behind second place Vibe CT 105 W Connection.
 Caledonia went ahead in the third minute through former national striker Trevor Puckering.

 Public made sure of a share of points when Stokely Mason crossed from the left for the national striker to head home past Weekes from inside a crowded 18-yard-box.

 SIX teams go into 15th round action today in the Professional Football League. League leaders CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh faces Arima Fire at CONCACAF Centre of Excellence, Macoya;

 Defence Force takes on Police at Arima Municipal Stadium and Doc's Khewalaas entertains Vibe CT 105 W Connection at Frederick Settlement, Caroni.

 The league will then take a one-week break leading up to this country's World Cup qualifier against Canada at the Queen's Park Oval September 3. In related news, Jabloteh and Defence Force joined forces to stage a Community Football Skills workshop for over 100 youngsters at Barataria Junior and Senior Comprehensive Schools last weekend.

 Youngsters received an assortment of items including T-shirts, posters and certificates at the end of the workshop. The workshop was supported by several corporate sponsors including Happi Products, Inner Light International and National Flour Mills.
Thursday August 24th, 2000

By IRVING WARD

CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh made a great escape at the Queen’s Park Oval yesterday evening.

The San Juan outfit held off a late charge from Vibe CT 105 W Connection to earn a 3-3 draw in their crucial Professional Football League matchup.

The point helped Jabloteh skipper Dale Saunders’s side maintain their lead atop the eight-team table with 28 points.

For their efforts, WCFC moved into second place with 25 points.

But this was only made possible after defending champions Defence Force (21 points) romped past Joe Public 4-1 at the João Havelange Centre of Excellence last night.

The Eastern Lions slipped to third with 23 points.

The hero of the game for Jabloteh turned out to be Colombian goalkeeper Alejandro Figueroa and his makeshift defence.

Figueroa made at least two brilliant second half saves as the southerners, apparently catching a second wind, came back from a 3-1 deficit to earn a well-deserved point.

In another game yesterday, cellar-placed Doc’s Khelwalaas earned only their third victory of the season by edging out the now struggling Caledonia AIA 2-1 at Frederick Settlement in Caroni.

At the Oval: Brazilian midfielder Gefferson da Silva Goulart revitalised the Connection offence with a 71st minute strike which turned the game on its head.

Goulart hit a viciously curling right-footer from just outside the penalty area to make the score 3-2.

The chance came after the Jabloteh defence had only been able to partially clear a loose ball after overlapping WCFC defender Addison Belfon’s attempted run to goal was thwarted.

The Jabloteh defence, which included Joseph Peters and Shan Ryan—replacements for the suspended Marvin Faustin and Don Morris—was then put under more pressure.

And just eight minutes after Goulart’s strike, his compatriot Jose Maria Manoel completed the comeback.

Manoel arrived inside the six metre box to head a left side cross from Goulart past Figueroa and Peters at the first post. In fact, Figueroa would inadvertently punch Peters in the head trying to make the save.

Peters was subsequently taken to hospital with a slight concussion.

Connection’s revival was signalled immediately after the restart when defender David Atiba Charles levelled the scores at 1-1 in the 54th minute.

However, Jabloteh’s Rolston James and Keith Gumbs then delivered a one-two punch within minutes of each other to silence the Connection crowd.

First James headed in his second goal of the game from a left side cross from David Villaquiran in the 56th minute.

Then Gumbs dribbled past Belfon and shot under keeper Brian James from 12 metres out to give Jabloteh a two-goal cushion.

However, Jabloteh only managed to stifle the Connection attackers for a couple minutes.

At Caroni: Ivan Sampson helped Khelwalaas continue their resurgence with his second goal in as many matches.

Sampson, who also scored in the 3-2 victory over Police on Sunday, found the net after just five minutes.

Khelwalaas skipper and defender Randolph Jerome made the scoreline 2-0 in the 18th minute.

AIA, who have been hit by an exodus of top players in the last couple months, got their goal from Vincentian Kendal Velox early in the second half.

Yesterday’s scores:

San Juan Jabloteh 3 (Rolston James 28th & 56th, Keith Gumbs 64th) v W Connection 3 (David Atiba Charles 54th, Gefferson da Silva Goulart 71st, Jose Maria Manoel 78th)

Doc’s Khelwalaas 2(Ivan Sampson 5th, Randolph Jerome 18th) v Caledonia AIA 1 (Kendal Velox 49th)

Defence Force 4 (Jason Scotland 11th & 81st, Sherman Phillip 21st & 70th) v Joe Public 1 (Angus Eve 86th) Police 3 v Arima Fire 1.

 By- SHAUN FUENTES

 CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh allowed a two goal advantage to slip but remained atop the Professional Football League standings following yesterday's 3-3 draw with closest rivals Vibe CT 105 W Connection in a 14th round match at Queen's Park Oval, Port-of-Spain.

 Jabloteh went into a 3-1 lead midway through the second half and when it appeared they would stretch that advantage or at least hold on to it, Connection came storming back with goals by Brazilian duo Jefferson Goulart (71st minute), substitute Jose Manoel (78th) to make sure a share of points.

 The result sent Jabloteh to 28 points and Connection second on 25. Third-placed Joe Public (23 points) suffered a 4-1 whipping from Defence Force in another game at Concacaf Centre of Excellence, Macoya,  yesterday. Double strikes by Jason Scotland (11th and 81st) and Sherman "Ants" Phillip (21st and 70th) got the better of Public who got their goal  from Angus Eve. Army moved to 21 points in fourth spot.

 Police overcame Arima Fire 3-1 at Arima Municipal Stadium to move to  sixth spot with 15 points.

 Doc's Khelwalaas, still in the cellar spot, moved to 14 points by way of a 2-1 win over Caledonia AIA at Frederick Settlement, Caroni. Jason Sampson (15th) and Randolph Jerome (18th) were the scorers for the homeside with Vincentian Kendall Velox getting the visitor's lone goal.

 At the Oval, Jabloteh started the game without three of their regulars, including suspended Otis Seaton, defender Don Morris, Marvin Faustin and Luis Murillo, through injury.

 They also had midfielder Joseph Peters rushed to hospital when he suffered a concussion near the end of the encounter after colliding with the upright in an attempt to prevent Connection's third goal. There were anxious moments for both defences in the opening stages, but nether team was able to stamp authority.

 Jabloteh went ahead in the 30th minute when Emerson Jean Marie, formerly of Caledonia AIA, cut in from the left before hitting past goalkeeper Brian James on a second attempt.

 Following the halftime break, Connection came out hungry for the equaliser and got it in the 53rd.

 National midfielder Reynold Carrington swung a cross into the box for Earl Jean whose header forced a good save from Alejandro Figueoa, but defender David Atiba Charles pounced on the rebound from close up.

 Two minutes later Ralston James restored Jabloteh's lead when he clinically headed home David Villaquiran's left side cross.

 Jabloteh went ahead 3-1 in the 64th when Kittitian striker Keith Gumbs took his time before unleashing a low left-footer under substitute 'keeper Anthony Marshall.

 Seven minutes elapsed before Connection came back into the game.

 Jean, slipping in the process, got the ball to Goulart on the edge of the box and he let go a right-footed rocket into the top left corner of the net.Manoel then rose to head home Goulart's left side corner for the equaliser 12 minutes from full time.

Wednesday August 23rd, 2000

By IRVING WARD

Current leaders CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh will be hoping to cut Vibe CT 105 W Connection down to size today when they meet in a crucial Professional Football League clash at the Queen’s Park Oval from 4 p.m.

Victory for Jabloteh (27 pts) will see the San Juan outfit further extending their lead over the rest of the pack.

And with second-placed WCFC just three points behind them, Jabloteh skipper Dale Saunders’s side would like nothing better than to peg the southerners back.

Unfortunately, Jabloteh will have to go about today’s task without the services of influential midfielder Otis Seaton.

He will be serving an automatic suspension having been sent off during Sunday’s 4-1 demolition of Joe Public.

But Jabloteh coach Ron LaForest will not be too worried with Sunday’s double-goal hero David Villaquiran and striker Rolston James—one of the league’s three joint top scorers with eight goals—in his arsenal today.

With Jabloteh apparently operating on all pistons, WCFC coach Stuart Charles Fevrier will need a better effort than his side gave against defending champs Defence Force on the weekend.

After going up 3-0 on the strength of a Titus Elva double, the men in green, red and white allowed the Army to storm back to earn a 3-3 draw. This cannot be allowed today.

In another key game, the Public (23 pts) will be hoping to make up lost ground when they host the fourth-placed Army (18 pts) at the João Havelange Centre of Excellence from 6 p.m.

The Public’s offence has been suffering without the services of injured striker Arnold Dwarika, also on eight goals with James and WCFC’s Jose Maria Manoel.

But with the points slipping away, Lions coach Kenny Joseph will ask the rest of his players to up their workload against an Army outfit buoyed by their comeback against WCFC.

In other matches today, Arima Fire (13 pts) host Police (12 pts) in a bottom of the table clash at the Arima Municipal Stadium from 6 p.m. while Caledonia AIA (14 pts) travel to Frederick Settlement in Caroni to tackle cellar-placed Doc’s Khelwalaas (11 pts) from 4 p.m.
 

(Round 13 Results)

Arima Fire 2 (Daryl Toussaint 14th & 72nd) v Caledonia AIA 2 (Kendal Velox 86th, Junior Hamilton 90th)

Doc’s Khelwalaas 3 (Jason Sampson 26th, Kevin Nelson 45th, Collin Samuel 82nd) v Police 2 (Kurt Danclair 53rd, Alvin Boisson 90th pen)

San Juan Jabloteh 4 (Joseph Peters 3rd, Dale Saunders 22nd, David Villaquiran 27th & 73rd) v Joe Public 1 (Angus Eve 75th pen)

W Connection 3 (Titus Elva 24 & 34, Earl Jean 49th) v Defence Force 3 (Anton Pierre 73rd, Kurt Williams 81st, Jason Scotland 88th)

 THE Queen's Park Oval holds the stage for a top of the table clash in the Professional Football League between leaders CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh and Vibe CT 105 W Connection from 4 pm today.

 Jabloteh, fresh from a 4-1 drubbing of Joe Public at the same venue on Sunday, leads the standings with 27 points after 13 matches, three more than Connection.

 Public are third with 23 points, followed by Defence Force (18), Caledonia AIA (15), Arima Fire (14), Police (12) and Doc's Khelwalaas (11). Jabloteh will be keen to do well today having already beaten the southerners convincingly earlier this season.

 A victory for Connection will still leave Jabloteh ahead on goal difference. The "Eastern Lions" are at home to defending champions Defence Force at the Concacaf Centre of Excellence, Macoya from 6 pm.

 Angus Eve will carry their hopes in midfield with striker Nigel Pierre and Stokely Mason and defender Shurland David aiming to get the better of the soldier-army combination.

 It is left to be seen whether Arnold Dwarika will make a return after sitting out the last game with an ankle injury.

 The Army will be looking to striker Jason Scotland to continue his good form along with midfielder Hutson Charles, while the lanky Dennis Lawrence will control things at the back.

 Doc's Khelwalaas, coming off a 3-2 win over Police, are at home to Caledonia at Frederick Settlement, Caroni from 4 pm.

 Guyanese striker Collie Hercules and Tobagonian Kevin Nelson will hope to help the central boys to a second straight win. Arima Fire do battle with Police in another match at the Arima Municipal Stadium from 6 pm.

Monday August 21st, 2000

By MARK POUCHET

THE lure of the PFL lead appeared not to be strong enough for Joe Public. But their opponents CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh showed the necessary inspiration when they whipped the “Eastern Lions” 4-1 at the Queen’s Park Oval yesterday to extend the gap at the top of the league standings.

After 13 rounds of matches, Jabloteh (27) are now three points clear of Vibe CT W Connection. Connection grabbed sole possession of second place from Public after drawing with Defence Force 3-3 at Gilbert Park.

Defending champions Defence Force launched a sterling fightback in the second half coming from three goals down to secure a point. Jason Scotland started the comeback when his 61st minute free-kick took a deflection off a WCFC wall and beat keeper Brian James to make the score 3-1.

This came minutes after both WCFC’s Alvin Xavier and Army’s Kwesi Smith were given marching orders by referee Richard Piper following a scuffle.

Kurt Williams then shot home a 70th minute penalty before Scotland got his second five minutes from time, once more from a spot kick to give his side a deserving point.

Earlier Titus Elva scored a first half double , while St Lucian attacker Earl Jean found the net five minutes after the resumption to give his team an insurmountable advantage.

In a bottom-of-the-table clash, Doc’s Khelwalaas eked out only their second victory of their 2000 PFL campaign, edging Police 3-2. However, although David Sampson, Kevin Nelson, Kenrick Hudson all scored to help their side to victory, the Central-based squad remain as the table-proppers, just one point behind Police on 12 points.

Back at the Oval Jabloteh’s intentions of staying ahead were clear.

Just one minute after David Villaquiran’s stinging left-footer was denied by the upright, Joseph Peters found the net in the third minute.

When Rolston James collected the ball on the right flank, the lanky attacker turned and twisted his way around three Public defenders before laying off for Peters. Unmarked, Peters shot immediately leaving Michael McComie outstretched and the ball in the back of the Public net.

Jabloteh continued the relentless attack on coach Kenny Joseph’s goal and were it not for some desperate defending and good saves by Mc Comie, Keith Gumbs and Peters could have put their names on the scorecards.

The constant pressure, though, would eventually pay off once more-this time with a spectacular effort from captain Dale Saunders in the 22nd minute.

When Saunders found himself within metres of him at the top right corner of Mc Comie’s penalty area, the national player looked up and struck the ball with the outside of his right boot. The ball that seemed to heading wide of the target, swerved past a diving McComie and into the “vee “of his far post.

Things were looking bleak for Public at this point and they became even more deflated when five minutes later Villaquiran sneaked in one at Mc Comie’s near post from Peters’ right side cross.

The match was now over as a contest. And even though Otis Seaton ejected from the game after retaliating to a Cyd Gray challenge, Jabloteh were firmly in control.

Eve got one from the penalty area after Stokely Mason was held back by Kerwyn Jack in the area.

But Villaquiran made sure of the win for Jabloteh with his tap home in the 85th minute.

Jabloteh 4 (David Villaquiran 2, Dale Saunders, Joseph Peters) - Joe Public 1 (Angus Eve pen.)
Doc’s Khelwalaas 3 (Jason Sampson, Kevin Nelson, Kenrick Hudson- Police 2 (Kurt Danclaire, Alvin Boisson pen.)
W Connection 3 (TitusElva2, Earl Jean) Defence Force 3(Jason Scotland2, Kurt Williams pen.)
Caledonia 2-2 Arima