Three National Under-23 players were on target for W Connection when the team snubbed St Ann's Rangers in a come-from-behind effort, to return to the top of the Digicel T&T Pro League standings, after Round Three Matchday Two, on Friday night. W Connection, which played in the first match of a double header at the Larry Gomes Stadium, in Arima, went two points clear at the top of the standings, before T&TEC, playing at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella in the second match of the other double header, dropped two vital points after it was held 1-1 by North East Stars. Veteran stiker Hector Sam gave St Ann's Rangers a surprise 1-0 lead with a close range effort in only the fifth minute, goals in quick succession on the quarter hour mark, and three minutes later from Johan Peltier and Jerrel Britto, respectively, both from close range, put Connection in the driver's seat. Shahdon Winchester, returning from Vietnam, made it 3-1 in the 82nd minute to wrap up the win for the newest league leaders. Then T&TEC, playing in the late fixture, looked on course to return to the top of the league at the end of the night.
However, leading into the final moments, the "Electricity Boys" were unable to contain the newest member of North East Stars' roster, Brazilian striker Jeronimo Wendes De Souza, who bagged Stars' equalizing goal on his debut to blank the former leaders. T&TEC, took the 1-0 lead in the near to the end of the first half thanks to a Bevon Bass effort. In the second match at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Caledonia AIA were lucky to follow Connection's win with a 3-2 win over Defence Force in the second match. Jamal Gay struck the winner a minute before the 90, to give Caledonia the win. The win may have been more straigtforward as Caledonia took a 2-0 advantage with goals from Devorn Jorsling in the 9th and Atualla Guerra in the 35th.
The Malabar based team, however, allowed Defence Force back in the game after Jemel Sebro pulled a goal back for a 2-1 scoreline at the break. Defence Force found its equaliser in the 70th minute through Kevon Carter, but the "Tetron Boys" defence again failed them with time running out, showing very little of what the team achieved in the last Pro League season. Caledonia's win saw the team go level in second place with T&TEC with 26 points. The opening fixture at the Marabella venue saw rock bottom Police FC blanked 4-2 by Adam's Construction San Juan Jabloteh, which widened its lead in fourth place to seven points over North East Stars at the end of the night. Willis Plaza was on target with a brace, both opening and closing the scoring for Jabloteh to lead the goalscorers chart with 10 goals in the league campaign.
Friday's Results
W Connection 3 (Johan Peltier 15th, Jerrel Britto 18th, Shahdon Winchester 82nd) v St. Ann's Rangers 1 (Hector Sam 5th)
San Juan Jabloteh 4 (Willis Plaza 5th, 73rd, Jason Marcano 20th, Marvin Oliver 31st) Police FC 2 (Dexter Alleyne 53rd, Wesley John 90th+)
Caledonia AIA 3 (Devorn Jorsling 9th, Atualla Guerra 35th, Jamal Gay 89th) v Defence Force 2 (Jemel Sebro 43rd, Kevon Carter 70th)
North East Stars 1 (Jeronimo De Souza 90th+) v T&TEC FC 1 (Bevon Bass 42nd)
Standings
Teams Pld W D L F A Pts
W Connection 15 9 0 6 17 15 27
T&TEC 15 7 5 3 21 12 26
Caledonia AIA 16 8 2 6 22 20 26
San Juan Jabloteh 15 6 5 4 23 19 23
NE Stars 15 4 4 7 14 16 16
Defence Force 13 4 4 5 16 19 16
St Ann's Rangers 15 4 4 7 20 25 16
Police 12 2 4 6 18 25 10