A double from Jamal Gay on Friday night led last season's Digicel Pro League runners-up Caledonia AIA to a winning start in the new year, defeating Point Fortin Civic 2-1, while undeated leaders DIRECTV W Connection was held to a 1-1 draw by defending champions Defence Force at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.Gay opened the scoring in the seventh minute in the first match of the double header, after beating national goalkeeper Marvin Phillip from 12 yards out to give Caledonia a 1-0 advantage at the half. The Morvant/Laventille club failed to double its advantage two minutes into the second period, when Nathan Lewis headed inches wide of the base of the upright from an Akim Armstrong cross.Caledonia's slim advantage however, was lost in the 57th minute of play when debuting forward Kendall Davis scored a diving header to level the score. But in the 63rd minute Caledonia were back in front 2-1 and the 24 year old Gay celebrating his second on the night. The lanky Caledonia forward was taken down outside the left of the area by Joseph, who was involved in Point Fortin's item, and from the resulting free-kick taken by Noel Williams, Gay, between a mix of players, bodied the ball over the line.
Point Fortin turned up the tempo at that stage in search of a second equalizer, but were let down by their finishing and a couple saves by Caledonia's goalkeeper Shemel Louison, as the Morvant/Laventille club held on for the win.In the second match, Kevon Carter's strike 16 minutes from time gave Defence Force a point against W Connection. Connection created its first solid attempt in the 37th minute but Silvio Spann's effort sailed over the bar.On the stroke of halftime Connection was lucky not to concede, thanks to the heroics of defender Daneil Cyrus, when he miraculously cleared a close range blast from Kevon Carter.It took Connection three minutes into the second period to break the deadlock. Striker Jerrel Britto slipped in front of defender Ross Russell Jr to meet a hard-worked Neil Benjamin Jr. cross, and guided it into the back of goalkeeper Sheldon Clarke's net for a 1-0 score.
Hashim Arcia then missed out on doubling his team's advantage in the 59th, when his effort crashed off the base of the upright as action between the leaders and defending league champions intensified.Ten minutes later, Defence Force substitute midfielder Josimar Belgrave was denied by a deflection, and from the resulting corner swung in by Corey Rivers, defender Rodell Elcock blasted a strike onto the crossbar.The soldiers then levelled the scores 1-1 in the 74th minute. Carter got the final touch, guiding a Devorn Jorsling assist off Rivers' cross into the back of goalkeeper Jelani Archibald's net.Today, also at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, fifth placed Central FC (11 points), boasting its latest signing in T&T midfielder Ataulla Guerra, will tackle eight positioned San Juan Jabloteh (6 points) from 5pm.
RESULTS
Caledonia AIA 2 (Jamal Gay 7th, 63rd) v Point Fortin Civic 1 (Kendall Davis 57th)
Defence Force 1 (Kevon Carter 74th) v W Connection 1 (Rennie Britto 48th)