Caledonia AIA ended a two-match winless run in the Digicel T&T Pro League and picked up much needed points by hammering bottom-of-the-table T&TEC FC 6-0 for a second time this season, at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, on Monday night.
Guyanese attacker Sheldon Holder scored a double and midfielder Keyon Edwards had two assists before wrapping up the high-scoring round two, match day four display.
In its last two league outings, second-positioned Caledonia dropped points by drawing goalless with defending champions DirecTV W Connection and sat on the wrong side of the 5-1 score against leader Defence Force. However, the Morvant-Laventille boys made a 'U-turn' last week in the semifinal round of the FA Trophy competition with a 2-1 comeback win over North East Stars at the same venue to reach its second final of the season.
Caledonia (20 points), which trails Defence Force (28 points), followed up with a scintillating display of possession, passing and finishing to demolish T&TEC after missing out on an opening item from the penalty spot.Just eight minutes into the match, right wing back Kareem Joseph was toppled inside the area by Eustace Darius, forcing referee Rodphin Harris to sound his whistle and point to the spot.
However, Joseph, known for putting it away from the spot, disappointingly directed his kick too high.And, in the 16th minute after a patient build up by Caledonia, Joseph was influential with a sharp run into the area after he was picked out by an Abdallah Phillips pass and sent a low cross into the six-yard area for Trevin Caesar to easily guide into the back of the net. But, to Caesar's disappointment, the offside flag had already gone.
Caledonia finally got it right in the 26th minute for a 1-0 advantage courtesy the Guyana international forward, Holder.Wing back Aubrey Davis made an intelligent run down the left flank before teaming up with Phillips and Caesar and sending in a cross to Holder, who shielded off defender Cebastian Bailey and hit past goalkeeper Darryl Francis.
Caesar then made it 2-0 in the 33rd minute after wrestling free an Edwards pass between a couple yellow shirts as he executed a perfect strike from just inside the area to beat a hapless Francis.Holder later made it 3-0 in the 53rd minute to complete his double. The Guyanese executed a simple left-footed strike from the edge of the six-yard area after an intended Edwards pass to Joseph bobbled into his path.
T&TEC was fortunate not to concede another in the 59th minute when Holder derailed his hat-trick by hooking an effort just wide as Caledonia penetrated T&TEC at will.Holder was later replaced in the 69th minute after picking up a knock, and his replacement, midfielder Akim Armstrong, enjoyed an item of his own for a 4-0 score, seconds after entering the pitch.
Armstrong volleyed a high Joseph pass into the roof of the T&TEC goal as Caledonia showed no mercy against the side they defeated at the same 6-0 score in round one, last November.Another substitute and younger brother to Joseph, Sherron, also got on the score sheet in the 74th minute with Caledonia's fifth item, courtesy of an assist by Edwards.
The distraught 'Electric Boys' had their first and only real attempt on goal by Tigana Sparks in the 83rd minute but that was spoiled by goalkeeper Glenroy Samuel who clearly enjoyed the night. Just a minute later Edwards wrapped up the 6-0 with a perfect strike into the far corner after he latched on to a Stephan David pass into the area.
In the end, T&TEC, which conceded its ninth league defeat of the season, remained slumped at the bottom with just four points after 11 matches, in marked contrast with its impressive debut run last season.In the night's other fixture, defending champion W Connection was stung by a 2-0 defeat to North East Stars, as the latter joined the former on 16 points.
Results
Monday
Caledonia AIA 6 v T&TEC 0
North East Stars 2 v W Connection 0
Current Standings
Teams Pld W D L F A Pts
Defence Force 11 9 1 1 36 13 28
Caledonia AIA 10 6 2 2 30 14 20
W Connection 10 4 4 2 17 10 16
North East Stars 10 4 4 2 14 10 16
Central FC 9 3 2 4 11 17 11
Police FC 11 2 4 5 11 16 10
St Ann's Rangers 10 2 2 6 13 26 8
T&TEC 11 1 1 9 7 33 4