Saturday, October 17 2009

SAN JUAN Jabloteh responded from weeks of indifferent form, both in the First Citizens Cup and the CONCACAF Champions League, with a 5-4 win over Defence Force, as both teams contested a rescheduled Round Three Match Day One affair in the Digicel Pro League’s Big Six competition on Thursday evening.

The result – which featured beaver-tricks from Jabloteh’s utility player Noel Williams and Defence Force’s striker Richard Roy – saw Jabloteh climb to second spot, in both the Pro League and Big Six points standings.

The fans at the Larry Gomes Stadium in Malabar, Arima saw Roy put Defence Force ahead in the 14th minute before Jabloteh responded with strikes from Williams, two minutes later, and Jason Marcano in the 51st. Roy tied up the scores at 2-2 in the 55th but Williams restored Jabloteh’s advantage on the hour-mark.

Roy continued the trend of topsy-turvy scoring when he notched a pair, in the 62nd and 72nd minutes, to put Defence Force 4-3 up, but Williams will have the last say in the dramatic encounter, with items in the 85th and 87th to secure full points for Jabloteh. The scheduled encounter on October 4 was cancelled as a number of Jabloteh players were currently afflicted with viral-like symptoms.

The Big Six features the top six teams after Round Two of the season, with the squads battling for both the Big Six and the overall league crown – Jabloteh won both titles last year.

Round Three Match Day Three will take place today, starting at 6 pm, with Caledonia meeting Jabloteh at Arima, Connection opposing Ma Pau at the Marvin Lee Stadium in Macoya and, at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella, Joe Public will face Defence Force.