Champions North East Stars, on Tuesday, lifted themselves from the bottom of the standings in the T&T Pro League for the first time this season after a goalless draw with Morvant Caledonia United at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva.
Goalkeeper Glenroy Samuel's heroics played a special part in the final result as well as the team's subsequent climb up the standings, though it was due to goal difference. His acrobatic save which kept out Keron Cummings' shot from the penalty spot in the second half stood out among others.
Otherwise, it was an all-around performance that earned the easterners a share of the points.
The Stars have now over-taken Terminix St Ann’s Rangers for ninth position on the 10-team standings on six points and a goal differential of -22 to the Rangers' -40. Afterwards Stars' coach Zoran Vranes said: “We are much more competitive now.”
The Stars got a golden opportunity to take the lead in the 30th minute from the penalty mark when Josiah Daniel went down from a challenge by defender Malik Mieres. However, Kordell Samuel failed to beat Terrence Lewis between the uprights and sent the teams to the break 0-0.
Three minutes after the resumption, Stars' new signing Dwayne James caught Caledonia's Grenadian forward Saydrel Lewis with a lunging tackle, that forced referee Keilon Bacchus to point to the penalty mark for the second time in the match.
However, Cummings casual approach for the kick was nicely read by the Caledonia custodian, who pushed it wide while at full-stretch. Samuel later kept out attempts from substitute Sheldon Holder six minutes from time, while James made a desperate goal-mouth clearance to prevent Lewis' effort from a follow-up in the death, from going in.
A stoppage-time missed chance by Quincy Ballah confirmed the misfortunes of the 'Eastern Stallions' who must next host Rangers in the first game of a doubleheader tomorrow at the Couva venue from 6 pm. In the other game, San Juan Jabloteh will take on third-placed Police FC from 8 pm.
According to Vranes “It was a disaster when we played Caledonia a few weeks ago, but now we are much better in terms of being competitive. We have added a couple players with more experience and it made a difference. The players are now understanding that football is serious business and we remain focused on developing young players to make business with them.”
Meanwhile, Caledonia coach Jerry Moe said, “We had the players to get the job done against North East Stars. We had enough clear-cut chances to put the game away, although we were a bit flat without enough penetration."
“We had one or two bright spots in the performances of defenders Maurice Ford and Ross Russell Jr. and goalkeeper Terrence Lewis. I don’t think we did everything wrong against North East Stars, but it’s back to the drawing board for us to improve in a couple areas in terms of finishing and creating more chances and maybe the result will come against Rangers,” Moe explained.
The Stars will next face Defence Force FC from 3:30 pm at Larry Gomes Stadium on Saturday.