Connection makes up ground on Caledonia

Rock-bottom T&TEC momentarily shocked W Connection, but in the end it was the defending champion, which returned to winning ways with a 3-1 triumph over the suffering “Electricity Boys,” when action continued in the Digicel TT Pro League, at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya, on Saturday.

The result saw W Connection (19 points) put pressure on second-placed tenants Caledonia AIA (23 points), which sits six points behind Defence Force, which played to only its second draw of the season a day prior (versus Central FC), at the same venue.

In contrast, the loss for Dexter Cyrus’ T&TEC was its tenth of the campaign. However, a positive on show was the goal from one the Secondary Schools’ Football League’s top players last year Nathaniel Garcia, who struck an equaliser in the 42nd minute, which tied the match at 1-1.

W Connection opened the scoring in the 24th minute, when Surinamese international striker Stefano Rijssel struck at the near post with a classy finish. T&TEC then got a response, a much needed one from Garcia, which unfortunately for the “Electricity Boys” would last less than four minutes, when Hashim Arcia found the back of the net, to regain Connection’s lead heading into the dressing room.

In the 78th minute, Andrei Pacheco, a former US-based and national forward put the “Savonetta Boys” 3-1 up with an audacious but clinical finish.

It was an important win for W Connection, which suffered another set back this season with a 2-0 loss to North East Stars in the last match day. 

North East Stars, dropped form, however, as it returned this weekend to play to a goalless draw with St Ann’s Rangers, in Saturday’s other match.

On Friday, Central FC and Defence Force played to an unlikely draw. After being stunned by a sixth minute item from Central’s Darren Mitchell, the “Teteron Boys” managed a response just three minutes later from Kevon Carter, but could not find another despite being the team’s top scoring club.

All eight teams will have a chance to rest during a Carnival break. Action will resume on February 15, with a top clash between Defence Force and W Connection.

Results
 

Friday
Caledonia AIA 3 (Trevin Caesar 34th, Akim Armstrong 73rd, Kareem Joseph 87th) v Police FC 1 (Dexter Alleyne 17th)
Central FC 1 (Darren Mitchell 6th) v Defence Force (Kevon Carter 9th) 

Saturday
North East Stars 0 v St Ann’s Rangers 0
W Connection 3 (Stefano Rijssel 24th, Hashim Arcia 45th, Andrei Pacheco 78th) v T&TEC 1 (Nathaniel Garcia 42nd)

Standings

Teams    Pld    W    D    L    F    A    Pts
Def Force    12    9    2    1    37    14    29
Caledonia    11    7    2    2    33    15    23
W Connection    11    5    4    2    20    11    19
N/E Stars    11    4    5    2    14    10    17
Central FC    10    3    3    4    12    18    12
Police    12    2    4    6    12    19    10
Rangers    11    2    3    6    13    26    9
T&TEC    12    1    1    10    8    36    4​