Inform striker Willis Plaza got the lone goal as Central FC cooled red-hot Pt Fortin Civic 1-0 in their early Digicel T&T Pro League clash yesterday at the Mahaica Oval, Pt Fortin.
Buoyed by its 7-0 blowout of Rio Claro United in the T&T Football Association FA Trophy competition round-of-32 meeting on Sunday and a 3-0 league win over Japs North East Stars two days earlier, Central FC was hoping to end its Akeem Adams Round Two campaign with a win to stay on course for the $35,000.
However, Pt Fortin also entered on a high, winners of its last four matches, including three in the league and was confident of avenging a Rawle Fletcher Round One 3-0 beating.
And early on, the host made all the running with Marcus Joseph missing a sitter as early as the second minute while Andre Toussaint had a shout for a penalty after a foul by Jamal Jack waived off by referee Callum Marshall in the 16th minute.
Two minutes later Central goalkeeper Jan-Michael Williams also came up big to deny an attempt from Weslie John while he also denied Joseph from a long range strike in the 31st minute to maintain a blank sheet.
Central FC coach Zoran Vranes then introduced national midfielder, Ataulla Guerra, back for Central after a two-match suspension in the 37th minute, to try and give his team some control of the midfield.
And within eight minutes of his arrival, Guerra, who replaced striker Dwight Quintero had a key role in Plaza, who on Monday was voted the Wendy's Player of the Month for January, firing his team ahead.
The out-of-favour T&T international dispatched a low strike from inside the box to beat Civic goalkeeper Marvin Phillip to settle matters in a very rugged contest after he worked a neat exchange with Jason Marcano inside the box to create space for himself from a move started by Guerra.
It was the sixth goal in two months for Plaza since rejoining the club in the January transfer window and came two days after he was voted Wendy's Player of the Month for January.
In the second-half, Williams made another crucial one handed save in the 71st minute, tipping behind a Toussaint free-kick at the last moment to preserve his team's lead while Guerra missed a chance in the 81st followed by Plaza, who made a mess of things, and allowed goalkeeper Marvin Phillip an easy gather.
With the win Central pushed its points tally to 35 points from 16 matches, five clear of defending champions DirecTV W Connection which has a match in hand.
Japs North East Stars are next with 26 points followed by Play Whe San Juan Jabloteh and Defence Force, both with 23 and Pt Fortin, which suffered its first loss under interim coach Leroy De Leon stayed on 20.
The win also ensured Central FC, which has already won the First Citizens Cup and the $35,000 Rawle Fletcher Round One crown ended the Akeem Adams Round Two table as winners with 18 points, four ahead of Play Whe San Juan Jabloteh (14) which has one match to play.
Standings
Current standings:
Teams P W D L F A Pts
Central 16 11 2 3 40 13 35
W Connection 15 9 3 3 31 11 30
N/E Stars 15 8 2 5 16 13 26
Jabloteh 15 6 5 4 23 22 23
D/Force 15 7 2 6 22 21 23
Pt Fortin 15 6 2 7 27 24 20
Police 15 4 5 6 20 30 17
Caledonia 15 4 4 7 22 28 16
Rangers 15 0 1 14 11 48 1
Fixtures
Upcoming matches:
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