Central FC will have to thank San Juan Jabloteh's Garth Thomas for securing the inaugural $35,000 Rawle Fletcher Trophy after he netted a last gasp equaliser to deny a goal-shy DirecTV W Connection full points in their 1-1 draw at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya on Tuesday night.
Going into the match, Central FC led the table with 17 points from its eight completed first round matches, one point ahead of W Connection, which was fancied to overhaul its Couva neighbours and snatch the Rawle Fletcher first round title with a win over Jabloteh.
And the "Savonetta Boys" got off to the perfect start when they grabbed a 1-0 advantage as early as the ten minute through a 30-yards strike from St Kitts/Nevis international Devaughn Elliot which proved too much for Jabloteh goalkeeper Raheem Belgrave, with its swerve and dip, as he spilled the ball into his own net.
However, W Connection failed to take advantage of a host of other chances created and while Jabloteh also squandered a few before substitute right-back Garth Thomas was picked out at the back post by a perfect Kerry Baptiste corner to head past goalkeeper Aquelius Sylvester's net, for a 1-1 draw.
With the point earned, the Stuart Charles-Fevrier coached W Connection drew level with Central's 17 points, and also the same 5-2-1 record and plus-15 goal-dfference.
However, Central ended the round as table-toppers and $35,000 richer having scored 23 goals to W Connection's 20, a figure Charles-Fevrier must have felt his team should have added too against Jabloteh, no doubt.
In the opener at Macoya venue, Russell Alfred netted a 57th minute winner for North East Stars to hold off Caledonia AIA 2-1 and moved into third spot with 14 points.
Keron "Ball Pest" Cummings had given Stars' a fourth-minute lead but Kareem Joseph drew Caledonia level in the 14th, only for Alfred to grab the second-half winner for the Sangre Grande club.
Down at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva, Devorn Jorsling's 120th Pro League career goal earned Defence Force a 3-2 win over battling cellar placed St Ann's Rangers 3-2.
The "Teteron Boys" looked set for a big win when Jelani Felix (11th) and Richard "Shaka" Roy (16th) scored inside the first 20 minutes for a 2-0 lead which they took into the half.
However, on the resumption, Rangers' hit back with items from Kennedy Isles (58th) and Nicholas Dillon, six minutes later to stun Defence Force and level the match at 2-2.
But Jorsling was not about to settle for a draw and in the 75th minute he fired home the winner to close to within three goals of Jabloteh's Kerry Baptiste (123) as the Pro League's all-time top scorer.
And in the other match, Marcus Joseph (61st) and Andre Toussaint (80th) second-half goals earned Pt Fortin Civic a 2-0 win over Police.
Matches continue tomorrow (Friday) at Couva with leaders Central FC against bottom team Rangers from 6 pm followed by Caledonia and Pt Fortin Civic, two hours later.
And on Saturday at Macoya, Defence Force tackles North East Stars at 5 pm followed by Jabloteh and Police.
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Tuesday's DigicelPro League results:
North East Stars 2 (Keron Cummings 4th, Russell Alfred 57th) vs Caledonia AIA 1 (Kareem Joseph 14th)
Jabloteh 1 (Garth Thomas 90th) vs W Connection 1 (Devaughn Ellioty 10th)
D/Force 3 (Jelani Felix 11th, Richard Roy 16th, Devorn Jorsling 75th) vs Rangers 2 (Kennedy Isles 58th, Nicholas Dillon 64th)
Pt Fortin Civic 2 (Marcus Joseph 61st, Andre Toussaint 80th) vs Police
Current Digicel T&T Pro League standings:
Teams P W D L F A Pts
Central FC 8 5 2 1 23 8 17
W Connection 8 5 2 1 20 5 17
N/East Stars 8 4 2 2 8 5 14
D/Force 8 4 1 3 14 13 13
Caledonia 8 3 2 3 13 13 11
Jabloteh 8 2 3 3 7 13 9
Police 8 2 3 3 10 17 9
Pt Fortin 8 2 2 4 12 15 8
Rangers 8 0 1 7 6 24 1
Upcoming fixtures:
Tomorrow (Friday):
Venue: Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva
Central FC vs St Ann's Rangers, 6pm
Caledonia vs Pt Fortin Civic, 8pm
Saturday:
Venue: Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya
Defence Force vs North East Stars, 5pm
San Juan Jabloteh vs Police, 7pm