Jomoul Francois got the decisive goal as Japs North East Stars edged host Pt Fortin Civic 2-1 to move to the top of the Digicel T&T Pro League at the Mahaica Oval, Pt Fortin on Tuesday night.
The result lifted Stars to ten points from four matches, two more than defending champions Central FC and Defence Force Force. At Mahaica Oval, T&T international Keron Cummings put North East Stars in front in the 35th minute but that advantage was lost when Civic’s Kenwin Stafford levelled the scores in the 62nd minute.
However the visitors snatched all three points when wide attacking midfielder J Francois grabbed the winner in the 75th minute, an item that kept the Sangre Grande club, coached this season by first—time head coach Roland Clarke, unbeaten this term after four league games.
Central Fc began the day as table-leaders on goal-difference from Stars, and looked set to remain top of the pack when Willis Plaza goal to show for it in the 22nd minute after latching onto a perfectly timed Ataulla Guerra pass inside the area.
However, with two minutes left in the match, Dominican defensive midfielder Briel Thomas glanced in a headerfrom a left sided Alvin Jones cross to snatch a share of the points for W Connection, who will face Central FC again on Sunday in the semifinal round of the Toyota Classic.
In the earlier match at the Couva venue, Ross Russell Jr, the son of Central FC coach and former national goalkeeper Ross Russell got a double in Defence Force’s 4-1 win over Club Sando to carry his team to eight points as well as they look towards Sunday’s Toyota Classic Semi-Final showdown with defending champions Play Whe San Juan Jabloteh from 4 pm at Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo.
Last night, the Pro League continued with a double-header at the Hasely Crawford Stadium with Morvant Caledonia United up against St Ann’s Rangers followed by Police FC versus Jabloteh.
Tuesday’s Digicel T&T Pro League results:
Defence Force 4 (Ross Russll Jr. 53’, 88’, Devorn Jorsling. 64’, Kerry Joseph 72’) vs Club Sando 1 (Teba Mc Knight 75’)
North East Stars 2 (Keron Cummings 35’, Jomoul Francois 75’) vs Pt Fortin Civic 1 (Kerwin Stafford 62’)
Central FC 1 (Willis Plaza 22’) vs W Connection 1 (Briel Thomas 88’); at the Ato Boldon Stadium