Teams will be jostling for positions at the halfway stage in the Ascension Football League which resumes on Friday with a double-header at the Phase II recreation ground in La Horquetta.
Terminix La Horquetta Rangers hold the top position by goal difference on second-placed Defence Force, with both on 20 points. They will fancy their chances against beatable opponents this weekend but both may not want to slip.
Tonight, Rangers will be at home to AC Port of Spain in the feature match from 8 pm in a game that could cement their top position with a victory. Rangers coach Dave Quamina has had six wins in eight matches with two drawn accounts. They are yet to lose a game so far, while the army/coast-guard combination team enjoys a similar record, but has scored fewer goals (27) than Rangers (35).
The Defence Force though will have to wait until Saturday at 7 pm at the Arima Velodrome, to spring into action against Real West Fort United, the newcomer to local football who are being coached by Ron La Forest.
Last week, the westerners (West Fort) paid heavily for their decision to use more than seven new players in their line-up, as they were thrashed 4-0 by the improving Deportivo Point Fortin (PF). La Forest has accepted blame as he continues his search for a starting 11.
Meanwhile, Rangers’ opponent AC Port of Spain appeared to have come to life in their last encounter against Moruga FC with a 6-1 triumph. Coach Walt Noreiga believes his team can hold off the league’s frontrunners but have to be regimented if they are to receive at least a point in the encounter.
In tonight’s opening game at 6 pm, Cunupia FC, the early leaders of the league after some three matches, will be up against Central Soccer World.
Following a red-hot start, the central team was brought back down to earth with three defeats in their last three matches. The Cunupia team now sits fifth in the standings with 13 points, while their counterparts are six points behind them at seventh spot.
MATCHES
Friday
(At La Horquetta
Recreation Ground)
Cunupia FC vs Central Soccer World, 6 pm
Terminix Rangers vs AC Port of Spain, 8 pm
Saturday
(At Arima Velodrome)
Deportivo PF vs Moruga FC, 5 pm
Defence Force vs Real West Fort, 7 pm
Sunday
Central FC vs Police FC, St James Barracks, 5 pm
STANDINGS
Place Club P W D L F A GD Pts
1 Rangers 8 6 2 0 35 11 24 20
2 Defence Force 8 6 2 0 27 5 22 20
3 Police FC 8 6 0 2 24 11 13 18
4 Deportivo 8 4 2 2 14 7 7 14
5 Cunupia FC 8 4 1 3 15 13 2 13
6 AC Port of Spain 8 2 3 3 16 18 -2 9
7 Central Soccer World 8 2 1 5 8 16 -8 7
8 West Fort 8 2 1 5 8 21 -13 7
9 Central FC 8 1 2 5 11 24 -13 5
10 Moruga FC 8 0 0 8 5 37 -32 0