Defending Digicel Pro League champs Central FC moved within a point of leaders Defence Force on Friday night after thrashing Police 3-0 at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva.
Playing in the second match of a double header the Couva 'Sharks' set aside the rumblings in the club created by the alleged sacking of midfielder Marvin Oliver, by firing two goals past Police goalkeeper Keinol Paul and gracefully accepting a third from an own goal, to capitalise on a slip up by the Army Coast-Guard Combination which were held to a goalless draw by lowly Point Fortin at Mahaica Oval.
This result placed the Defence Force on 32 points, while the Sharks are now on 31 as the race to the finish heats up. W Connection are in third with 26 points and have a chance to close the gap on their nearest rivals when they take on fourth North East Stars at the Larry Gomes Stadium in Malabar, Arima from 3:30pm.
But though the 'Sharks' were reduced to 10 men following the sending off of captain Jamal Jack for his second bookable offence, they were intent to receive maximum points. The opener came in the second half when Marcus Joseph rode a wave of luck misfortunes, before getting the ball past the custodian.
The ball fumbled through a tardy 'Lawmen' defence before Joseph blasted his shot past Paul for the lead from about 25 yards out. The goal came after the finger of guilt had been pointed towards Joseph for a series of earlier missed chances.
The Couva men felt they should have scored when Joseph was given room in the 38th minute but his attempt was denied by Paul in the Police goal. Three minutes later the ball bounced awkwardly for Joseph again in the box but he spooned it over the crossbar.
Another good opportunity went abegging for the Central Sharks and it was beginning to look like a one-nil win for them. From a build-up Central FC's Jason Marcano tried to increase his team's lead from an overhead kick which was initially headed off the line by defender Dexter Alleyne. However his weak clearance could only reach a lurking Joseph inside the area, but his effort was again pushed wide by Paul.
Central got their second goal in the 55th minute. Tobago-born winger Darren Mitchell fired past Paul from inside the area from an earlier Guerra feed.
Police had matched their opponents in a keenly contested first half, but crumbled in the second, allowing the third goal to come in the most bizarre of fashion.
Central goalkeeper Jan-Michael Williams booted the ball upfield but it was unfortunately glided into his own net by Police defender Anton Hutchinson in the 67th minute. Referee Gyasi Mc Donald recorded the item as an own goal credited to Police defender Hutchinson.
Despite the defeat however the Lawmen maintained fifth on the standings with 21 points. The loss was their third on a trot which has now become a worrying sight for them.
In the earlier contest at the Couva venue, utility player Devon Modeste earned Club Sando a hard-fought 1-0 win over Morvant Caledonia United, ending the visitors' attempt of a third straight win. Modeste netted on 65 minutes against his past employers for his fourth league goal this season but it was the heroics of goalkeeper Kelvin Henry that really stood in Caledonia's way.
Henry produced a number of excellent saves to deny Kareem Joseph on either side of the half as well as Akim Armstrong on the hour mark.
Caledonia also had their goalkeeper Marvin Phillip to praise for the least embarrassing scoreline. The T&T goalie pulled off a point blank save just four minutes into the game to push Kevon "Showtime" Woodley attempt wide for a corner and later in the 36th minute, Phillip made back-to-back saves to deny Akeem Humphrey and Bradley Nestor.
Latest Pro League Standing
Team Pl W D L Pts
1 Defence Force FC 15 9 5 1 32
2 Central FC 15 9 4 2 31
3 W Connection 14 7 5 2 26
4 North East Stars F.C 14 6 4 4 22
5 Police FC 15 6 3 6 21
6 San Juan Jabloteh 14 6 2 6 20
7 Club Sando 15 5 2 8 17
8 Morvant Caledonia United 15 4 1 10 13
9 Point Fortin Civic FC 15 3 3 9 12
10 St. Ann's Rangers 14 2 3 9 9