Defence Force dropped its first points of the season in the 2019/2020 T&T Pro League campaign after they needed an equaliser from Shaquille Bertrand to salvage a 1-1 draw with struggling San Juan Jabloteh on Tuesday night.
This was in the first match of a double-header at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo.
The "Teteron Men", which last won the Pro League in the 2012/2013 season, have won the team's first four matches of the league, including being 1-0 winners over defending champions W Connection at the same venue on Friday last.
Jabloteh, meanwhile entered on the back of a 6-0 mauling from Terminix La Horquetta Rangers, also on Friday at the La Horquetta Recreation Ground, Phase II, La Horquetta, and had one win in five matches.
Despite their early league struggles, the Keith Jeffrey's coached Jabloteh, took a shock lead in the 25th minute, courtesy national youth striker Justin Araujo-Wilson.
But that lead was short-lived as Bertrand drew Defence Force level six minutes later for a 1-1 half-time score.
In the second-half, Defence Force, without top striker Devorn Jorsling, squandered many second-half chances to grab full points and had to settle for a share of the points and moved to 13 points from five matches, three ahead of Police FC, who missed a chance to go top of the table after falling to a resurgent Terminix La Horquetta Rangers, 2-1 in the second match at Mucurapo.
Rangers went ahead as early as the eighth minute through former national youth player and club captain Jamal Creighton.
But, within five minutes Police, FC got on even terms thanks to in-form Keion Wilson, from the penalty spot, with his league-best sixth strike of the season.
However, Rangers would secure a third win in five matches when Samuel Delice netted in the 62nd minute after which his team held firm to move level on nine points with Morvant Caledonia, but from a match more.
At the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, Pt Fortin Civic and Central FC pulled off shock wins against Tiger Tanks Club Sando and Morvant Caledonia AIA respectively.
In the opener, Kerville Jeremiah netted a second-half double to add to Kern Edwards' first-half tally to lead Pt Fortin Civic past Club Sando 3-0, while in the feature match, Sean Bonval's double was enough for Central FC to hold off Morvant Caledonia, 2-1
At the Diego Martin Sporting Complex, Diego Martin, AC Port-of-Spain got a tenth-minute penalty from Rashad Hyacenth to slip past Cunupia FC 1-0.
Tuesday's results
Tiger Tanks Club Sando 0 vs Pt Fortin Civic 3 (Kern Edwards 28th, Kerville Jeremiah 61st, 72nd)
Central FC 2 (Sean Bonval 27th, 59th) vs Morvant Caledonia AIA 1 (Aaron Richards 84th)
Defence Force 1 (Shaquille Bertrand 31st) vs San Juan Jabloteh 1 (Justin Araujo-Wilson 25th)
Police FC 1 (Keion Wilson 13th pen) vs La Horquetta Rangers 2 (Jamal Creighton 8th, Samuel Delice 62nd)
AC Port-of-Spain 1 (Rashad Hyacenth 10th pen) vs Cunupia FC 0
Current T&T Pro League standings:
Teams*P*W*D*L*F*A*Pts
1. Defence Force FC*5*4*1*0*8*4*13
2. Police FC*6*3*1*2*9*6*10
3. Morvant Caledonia*6*2*3*1*6*5*9
4. L.H Rangers*5*3*0*2*17*8*9
5. Central FC *6*2*2*2*7*7*8
6. AC Port-of-Spain*5*2*1*2*7*11*7
7. W Connection*4*1*2*1*5*4*5
8. Club Sando*6*1*2*3*4*8*5
9. San Juan Jabloteh*6*1*2*3*2*9*5
10. Pt Fortin Civic*4*1*2*1*5*4*5
11. Cunupia FC*5*0*2*3*4*8*2
Leadering Scorers
6 - Keion Wilson (Police FC)
4 - Keron Cummings (La Horquetta Rangers), Rashad Hyacenth (AC PoS)
3 - Shaqkeem Joseph (Club Sando), Sean Bonval (Central FC), Aaron Richards (Morvant Caledonia), Kervile Jeremiah (Pt Fortin Civic), Jamal Creighton (La Horquetta Rangers)
