Central FC marched towards a maiden Digiecl T&T Pro League table hit a bump after it was held to a 1-1 draw by former champion Defence Force at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella yesterday.
Sean De Silva fired Central ahead after only 14 minutes, but four minutes later Akeem Roach replied for the "Teteron Boys" after which both teams failed to find a winner.
With the point earned, Central FC improved to 46 points from 21 matches and three left to play while defending champion DirecTV W Connection is next with 43 points and a match in hand.
On Friday, forward Hashim Arcia opened the scoring in the 41st minute for W Connection before midfielder Jomol Williams doubled the lead in the 53rd in its 2-0 shut-out of Pt Fortin Civic at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo.
Arcia, one of 18 Pro League players selected by Soca Warriors coach Stephen Hart for Friday's friendly international against Panama, made a solo run into the box before hitting low past T&T goalkeeper Marvin Phillip and into the far netting for the Connection advantage before the break for a 1-0 lead against Pt Fortin which was without the trio of defenders Andre Ettienne, Garyl Doldron and Glen Sutton, who were serving suspensions for their involvement in a brawl with Police FC on February 27.
Civic's defensive problems were exploited again, eight minutes after the restart, when Colombian midfielder Yhon Stiven Reyes Lopez, who missed the target in the sixth minute, found Akeem Garcia on right and the T&T Under-20 attacker weaved his way into the box before squaring a pass to Williams to hit home from close range.
In the earlier match of the double header, which had little chances on either end, third-placed North East Stars (32 points) scored from the penalty spot in the 80th minute to pull off a 1-1 draw against seventh-placed Police FC ( 27 points).
Police, without the services of seven suspended players, opened the scoring in the 24th minute through winger Micah Lewis but Stars' midfielder Keron Cummings levelled the scores 1-1 from the penalty spot ten minutes from time.
Referee Gyasi McDonald awarded the kick, ruling that T&T senior team call-up and Under-20 player Neveal Hackshaw was fouled in the box during an attempt to score.
Results
Friday:
Police FC 1 (Micah Lewis 24th) vs North East Stars 1 (Keron Cummings 80th pen)
W Connection 2 (Hashim Arcia 41st, Jomol Williams 52nd) vs Pt Fortin Civic 0
Yesterday:
Central FC 1 (Sean De Silva 14th) vs Defence Force 1 (Akeem Roach 19th)
Caledonia AIA 2 (Pernell Schultz 71st, 80th,) vs St Ann's Rangers 1 (Sayid Freitas 88th)