National striker Kevon Carter scored a hat-trick while Jerwyn "Bally" Balthazar and Devorn Jorsling added a brace each, as Digicel T&T Pro League leaders' Defence Force hammered a weakened St Ann's Rangers 8-0 when matches resumed with a double-header at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella on Friday night.
In the night's opener, Police also got the year off to a positive start as it used second-half strikes from Jameel Perry and Anton Hutchinson to shut-out struggling T&TEC 2-0 for a second time this season in the league.
However, it was the pounding of Rangers by the rampant "Teteron Boys" which had the fans talking at the end of the night as they pushed their points tally to 19 from eight matches, six ahead of Neal & Massy Caledonia AIA which has two matches in hand.
It took the Ross Russell-coached Defence Force 21 minutes before Balthazar opened the scoring against Rangers who were without three key players in Elijah Belgrave and Christon Thomas, both now with Police, as well as former England-based striker Hector Sam who linked up with former coach Fenwick at Central FC, earlier this week when the December/January transfer windown opened.
Ten minutes later, Balthazar doubled the lead with his first before he added another in the 43rd which was followed by Carter's second on the stroke of half-time for a comfortable 4-0 advantage.
There was no letting up on the resumption as Jorsling extended the lead to 5-0 in the 66th while Carter completed his hat-trick two minutes for a 6-0 score.
Jorsling then added his second of the match in the 73rd to go top of the league's goalscorers with seven and five minutes later his fellow national striker, Richard Roy rounding off the scoring with a powerful drive past goalkeeper Zane Coker
Meanwhile, for the second time this season, Police with newly signed Thomas and Belgrave in their starting line-up was able to take full points from Central FC, 2-0.
Perry opened the scoring six minutes into the second-half from close range and in the 80th minute Hutchinson headed past goalkeeper, Akini Adams from a Trent Noel free-kick.
Both teams had created a few openings prior to the goals with Adams doing well to keep out a strike from Police's Dexter Alleyne within the first ten minutes while at the other end Tigana Sparks muffed two chances as his team stayed in cellar-placed with only three points from eight matches.
In last night's other match at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, Caledonia came up against third placed and yet to be defeated North East Stars.
Friday's digicel T&T Pro League results
D/Force 8 (Kevon Carter 21st, 45th, 68th, Jerwyn Balthazar 31st, 43rd, Jorsling 66th, 73rd, Richard Roy 78th) vs Rangers 0
Police 2 (Jameel Perry 51st, Anton Hutchinson 80th) vs T&TEC 0
Standings
Teams P W D L F A Pts
Defence Force 7 5 1 1 19 11 16
Caledonia 6 4 1 1 22 9 13
N/East Stars 6 2 4 0 10 7 10
W Connection 6 2 3 1 12 8 9
Police 7 1 3 3 7 11 6
Central FC 5 2 0 3 7 12 6
Rangers 6 1 2 3 11 13 5
T&TEC 7 1 0 6 6 23 3