Defence Force aims at Stars in key clash

Defence Force will look to strengthen its claim to a second Digicel T&T Pro League title in three years and 21st national crown overall when they meet North East Stars in the feature match of a double-header at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya, from 8 pm tonight.

Currently, the Ross Russell-coached “Teteron Boys” lead the eight-team table with 36 points from 15 matches, seven ahead of Neal & Massy Caledonia AIA, while defending champion DirecTV W Connection is next with 25 points from 14 matches and Stars, fourth with 21 after a 0-0 draw with Central FC in a rescheduled match on Wednesday night at Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva.

Stars, which ended the match with ten men after defender Kareem Moses was red-carded in the 47th minute, had only themselves to blame for not taking all three points with forward Cornell Glen failing to convert a penalty in the 56th minute following a foul by defender Weslie John.

His attempt was kept out by Central goalkeeper Marvin Phillip, who made no fewer than three other saves to earn his team a point.

This afternoon, Defence Force will enter the match on the back of a 3-0 shutout led by a brace from Devorn Jorsling and one from Kevon Carter, his Soca Warriors teammate, and will be confident of another win, having played unbeaten against Stars in two league outings so far this season.

When both teams met in the first round, Defence Force needed a second-half treble from Josimar Belgrave to earn a come-from-behind 3-1 draw while Jorsling got the lone goal in their second round clash.

The “Teteron Boys” have also gone 12 league matches unbeaten with their lone defeat coming against Caledonia way back on October 26 last year.

Two hours prior, Central FC, fifth on the table with 19 points, will also hope to continue its upward movement on the table when it faces Police, which is coming off a 3-0 triumph over T&TEC.

In their two previous meetings, Central FC came away with a 1-0 victory while the other ended in a goalless draw, setting the stage for an interesting encounter.

Down at Couva, a double-header is also carded with W Connection and recent T&T Football Federation FA Trophy back-to-back champions Caledonia looking for a second win in three meetings with W Connection from 8 pm.

The Morvant/Laventille “Stallions,” as Caledonia is called, defeated Central FC 2-0 in the FA final one week ago at the same venue.

And tonight, the Stephan David-captained club will no doubt be eager for a winning return to the Couva venue against the “Savonetta Boys,” they defeated 1-0 in the first round, followed by a 0-0 second round stalemate.

In the opening match at Couva, St Ann’s Rangers faces T&TEC and will be seeking a third straight win from as many league meetings after 3-2 and 1-0 triumphs in their other clashes.

Today’s matches: 
Venue: Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva
T&TEC vs Rangers, 6 pm
W Connection vs Caledonia, 8 pm

Venue: Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya
Central FC vs Police, 6 pm
Defence Force vs North East Stars, 8 pm

Wednesday:
Venue: Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva
Caledonia vs North East Stars, 6 pm 
W Connection vs Central FC, 8 pm

current standings:
Teams    P    W    D    L    F    A    Pts
D/Force    15    11    3    1    43    16    36
Caledonia    14    9    2    3    41    21    29
W Conn’    14    7    4    3    27    15    25
N/E Stars    14    5    6    3    18    13    21
Central FC    14    5    4    5    17    22    19
Police    15    3    5    7    20    27    14
Rangers    15    2    4    9    19    38    10
T&TEC    15    1    2    12    10    43    5