Digicel T&T Pro League outfit, Pt Fortin Civic Centre was gifted a spot in the main draw of this year's T&T Football Association FA Trophy competition without breaking a sweat yesterday.
This after its scheduled opponent for yesterday at the Mahaica Oval, Pt Fortin, Central Football Association's Harlem Strikers withdrew from the tournament, as they were unable to field a team due to various reasons.
Pt Fortin will now go into the draw for the next round on Monday February 2.
Meanwhile, four-time FA Trophy winners and defending champions DirecTV W Connection was among two other Pro League clubs who were down to play preliminary round matches yesterday based on the random draw of 38 teams, conducted last Wednesday at the TTFA office at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo.
The trio of W Connection, Defence Force and Pt Fortin Civic, and four National Super League (NSL) clubs: Guaya United, Defence Force, Siparia Spurs and Real Maracas, were drawn in the 12-team preliminary round.
W Connection, also the reigning Pro League champions and winners of five titles last season faced Real Maracas at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva to begin its title defence.
FA winners in 1999, 2000, 2002 and 2013-2014 and seven-time finalists, W Connection, coached by St Lucian Stuart Charles-Fevrier, has met Real Maracas just once competitively, and came away with a 2-0 in the preliminary round of the 2013 Toyota Classic, the only tournament that pools Pro League clubs with NSL clubs.
Last season W Connection defeated rivals Central FC 6-5 on kicks from the penalty spot following a 2-2 draw in the final of the FA Trophy.
The other FA preliminary round clashes contested yesterday included Siparia Spurs against Maple FC; House of Dread versus t Guaya United; Queens Park Cricket Club (QPCC) and Defence Force (Pro League), and Cedar Hill United against Defence Force (Super League)
Of the 38 teams drawn, nine come from the Pro League, 11 in the National Super League, and three each from the six national zones, with the exception of Harlem Strikers.
2015 fa trophy clubs:
2015 T&TFA FA Trophy participating clubs:
T&T Pro League: Central FC, W Connection, Defence Force, North East Stars, Caledonia AIA, Point Fortin Civic, Police FC, San Juan Jabloteh, St Ann's Rangers
National Super League: Real Maracas, Guaya United, Petrotrin Palo Seco, Club Sando, D' Lime Bar Goal City, Bethel United, WASA, FC Santa Rosa, Siparia Spurs, Stokelyvale FC, Defence Force
Eastern FA: Prison FC, House of Dread, SKHY FC
Eastern Counties FU: Biche FC, Rio Claro United, Tamana United
Central FA: Cunupia FC, Enterprise Life Sports, Harlem Strikers (withdrawn)
Northern FA: Maple FC, QPCC FC, St Francois Nationals
Southern FA: Moruga FC, Penal All Stars, Cedar Hill United
Tobago FA: Youth Stars FC, Black Rock FC, Roxborough Lakers
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