In-form Willis Plaza and Kaydion Gabriel scored a goal each and made another as Digicel T&T Pro League leaders Central FC blanked Japs North East Stars 3-0 at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya to end a two-match losing skid.
Coming off of shock losses to Defence Force (1-0) and Play Whe San Juan Jabloteh (2-3), Central FC was desperate to get back to winning ways after its lead had shrunk to three points.
However, coach Zoran Vranes and his team entered the contest minus two key players in suspended Ataulla Guerra and Rundell Winchester.
But despite the duo's absence, the "Central Sharks" came out biting and took the lead in the 18th minute through Jason Marcano, who was first to a right sided cross from Kaydion Gabriel to head past Stars' goalkeeper Stefan Berkeley.
Eight minutes before the half-time whistle, Central, winners of this season's First Citizens Cup and Rawle Fletcher (Round One) Trophy, doubled its lead when Plaza was released on the right and raced towards goal before drilling his shot past Berkeley.
And two minutes later, Plaza turned provider as he put through Gabriel for an easy finish and a 3-0 cushion at the break.
In the second-half, Central could have extended its lead but veteran Marvin Oliver had a penalty effort saved one handed by Berkeley to redeem himself after the latter fouled Central forward Dwight Quintero inside the 18-yard box leaving referee Keilon Bacchus with no choice while defender Uriah Bentick fired wide in the final seconds.
Despite failing to add to his first half tally, Central still took away the valuable three points to carry its tally to 32 from 15 matches, three more than defending champions DirecTV W Connection which earlier in the day edged Police 2-1 at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva while Stars stayed joint third with 23 points, the same as Defence Force.
Former national youth striker, Jerrel Britto fired W Connection into a 21st minute lead with his ninth goal of the season and six minutes later national defender Alvin Jones made it 2-0 while Police forward Kareem Freitas reduced the deficit on the stroke of half-time.
There were no more goals in the second-half as W Connection stayed hot on the heels of its bitter Couva rivals in the race for the Pro League crown as well as the Akeem Adams Trophy (Second Round winners).
At present Central also leads the Akeem Adams trophy table with 15 points, ahead of W Connection and Pt Fortin Civic, both with 12 points each, Play Whe San Juan Jabloteh (11), Defence Force (ten points), North East Stars (nine), Police FC (eight), Caledonia AIA (four) and St Ann's Rangers (0).
The points are calculated during each round, but not affecting the regular overall league table, to determine the winner.
The Akeem Adams Trophy was introduced this season along with the Rawle Fletcher (Round One) and Kevon Carter (Round Three) trophies in memory of the fallen players, which the titles are named after, and also in an attempt by the League to increase the level of competitiveness during the lengthy Pro League season.
Down at the Mahaica Oval, Pt Fortin, host Pt Fortin Civic made it three wins on the trot at home under interim coach and former national standout Leroy De Leon after a come-from-behind 2-1 defeat of Defence Force.
The "Teteron Boys" stunned the home crowd when Jerwyn "Bally" Balthazar netted a ninth minute opener, however, last season's top scorer, Marcus Joseph, notched his seventh league goal this season just before the interval to level the match before a 58th minute strike by midfielder Akeem Redhead secured the three points for the home team, now with 20 points and unbeaten under De Leon who took up the reigns after long-serving coach Reynold Carrington resigned last month.
And in the earlier match at Macoya on Friday night, Tyrone Charles scored a minute before full-time to earn Jabloteh a 1-1 draw with Caledonia AIA.
After a 0-0 first 45 minutes, 21-year-old Guyanese forward Domini Garnett capitalised on a mistake by Jabloteh defender Caleb Sturge inside the six yard box to hit low past Jamaican goalkeeper Shane Mattis for a 1-0 lead.
But with a minutes of regular time left, Charles, who joined the "San Juan Kings" during the January transfer window, collected a pass inside the box from substitute Andell Noray and muscled off St Lucian defender Jamil Joseph before hitting past Grenada national team goalie Shemel Louison to earn this season's Toyota Classic winners a point.
With the point earned Caledonia remained seated in eight position with 15 points, two less than seventh positioned Police, while Rangers are rock bottom with just one point.
Today, the Pro League clubs will turn their attention to the round-of-32 in the T&T Football Federation FA Trophy competition with title-holder W Connection visiting Super League's WASA FC at its St Joseph Ground.
Current standings:
Teams P W D L F A Pts
Central 15 10 2 3 39 13 32
W Connection 14 9 2 3 30 10 29
D/Force 14 7 2 5 21 19 23
N/E Stars 14 7 2 5 14 12 23
Pt Fortin 14 6 2 6 27 23 20
Jabloteh 14 5 5 4 21 21 20
Police 15 4 5 6 20 30 17
Caledonia 14 4 3 7 21 27 15
Rangers 14 0 1 13 10 47 1
Friday's Digicel T&T Pro League results:
Pt Fortin 2 (Marcus Joseph 45th, Akeem Redhead 58th) vs D/Force 1 (Jerwyn Balthazar 9th)
W Connection 2 (Jerrel Britto 21st, Alvin Jones 27th) vs Police FC 1 (Kareem Freitas 45th)
San Juan Jabloteh 1 (Tyronne Charles 89th) vs Caledonia AIA 1 (Domini Garnett 59th)
Central FC 3 (Jason Marcano 18th, Willis Plaza 37th, Kaydion Gabriel 39th) vs North East Stars 0
upcoming matches
?Tuesday February 24:
Mahaica Oval, Pt Fortin
Point Fortin Civic vs Central FC, 4 pm
Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya
St. Ann's Rangers vs North East Stars, 6 pm
Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva
Caledonia AIA vs W Connection, 6 pm
San Juan Jabloteh vs Defence Force, 8 pm
Police FC (bye)
Round Two Match Day Nine
Friday February 27:
Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva
Caledonia AIA vs North East Stars, 6 pm
W Connection vs San Juan Jabloteh, 8 pm
Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya
St. Ann's Rangers vs Defence Force,
6 pm
Police FC vs Pt Fortin Civic, 8 pm
Central FC (bye)