Jorsling strike extends Army’s lead

National  forward Devorn Jorsling earned Defence Force a 1-0 win over North East Stars with a late strike at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo on Friday night to extend their lead at the top of the Digicel T&T Pro League standings.

After being denied by former team-mate, goalkeeper Cleon John throughout the match, Jorsling broke the deadlock with eight minutes left on the board to secure a sixth straight win for his team while Stars fell to its second straight league loss.

The Ross Russell-coached “Teteron Boys”, champions in 2010 now have 22 points from nine matches, five clear of second placed Neal & Massy Caledonia AIA which was held ton a 0-0 draw by defending champions DirecTV W Connection in the second match at Mucurapo on Friday night.

The Angus Eve coached-Stars, minus captain Seon Power (away on trials) were on the defense in the 17th minute but earned applause when John made successive saves to keep out a strike by Jorsling and recovered brilliantly to deny the Defence Force forward again, with his follow up attempt.

John was forced into action again in the 33rd minute, making a simple catch on Kevon Carter's curling effort towards his left upright and four minutes Carter rolled one in at goal after evading John, only to see Kareem Moses clear the danger. 

On the resumption, John continued to keep the league leaders, who were without striker Richard Roy (away on trials) at bay as he made superb diving save in the 68th minute to deny another Jorsling strike which had goal written all over it from a hard run and cross from substitute Josimar Belgrave.

However, with eight minutes left on the clock John was finally beaten by Jorsling who volleyed past the Stars goalkeeper from midway inside the area after the defense half clearance on a right sided cross from Carter. 

With the seconds ticking away in injury time John was forced into back-to-back saves to deny Belgrave from doubling his side tally, but in the end the strike by Jorsling, his league leading eighth of the campaign was enough to secure the all important three points. 

With the loss Stars stayed fourth on ten points from eight matches, while Caledonia is second with 17 followed by W Connection four points back.

In the night’s second match, W Connection failed to take advantage of a depleted Caledonia AIA line-up which was without no fewer than eight first team regulars all away on trials.

Missing for Caledonia were T&T internationals Jamal Gay, Radanfah Abu Bakr, Ataulla Guerra. Nuru Abdullah Muhammad  and Densil Theobald as well Conrod Smith, Guyanese duo, Walter Moore and Trayon Bobb, and St Vincent and the Grenadines’ Cornelius Stewart all overseas on trials.

Last night at the at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella, cellar-placed T&TEC faced St Ann’s Rangers while Police battled Central FC.

Friday’s Digicel T&T Pro League results:
Defence Force 1 (Devorn Jorsling 82nd) vs North East Stars
Caledonia AIA 0 vs W Connection 0

Digicel T&T Pro League standings:
Teams    P    W    D    L    F    A    Pts
Defence Force    9    7    1    1    28    11    22
Caledonia    8    5    2    1    23    9    17
W Connection    8    3    4    1    15    8    13
N/East Stars    8    2    4    2    10    9    10
Police    8    2    3    3    9    11    9
Central FC    6    2    0    4    7    17    6
Rangers    7    1    2    4    11    21    5
T&TEC    8    1    0    7    6    25    3

Upcoming matches:
Friday January 18:
Venue: Mannie Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella
W Connection vs St Ann’s Rangers, 6pm
Defence Force vs Caledonia, 8pm

Saturday January 19:
Venue: Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva:
Police vs North East Stars, 5pm
T&TEC vs Central FC, 7pm