W Connection capture fifth FA Trophy

Captain Hughtun Hector scored twice to lead W Connection to their fifth Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) FA Trophy on Friday, courtesy of a 3-1 win over Police FC in the final, at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva.

Hector got his name on the scoresheet in the 45th and 90th minutes to ensure that his team added this year’s title to their previous ones (1999, 2000, 2002 and 2013-2014), as well as end the 2017 local football season $100,000 richer.

Dimitrie Apai was the other scorer for the Stuart Charles Fevrier-coached Connection, while Jameel Perry got the lone item for the Richard Hood-coached Police.

Police, seeking their first FA title since 1994, put enormous pressure on the Connection team from the opening whistle, but they never capitalised on the goal-scoring chances on offer, including one in the 21st when new recruit Kaashif Thomas met a cross from the right by Clevon McFee but his header went wide of the mark.

There was a brief delay, after 13 minutes, when Connection were forced to change their attire due to the closeness of their dark green outfit to Police’s dark blue clothing.

However, Apai, a lively Suriname winger, opened Connection’s account in the 32nd, as he was totally unmarked, in the six-yard box, and slotted home from Marcus Joseph’s right-sided corner.

That goal seemed to spark some life in Connection, and they had a good chance to widen their lead in the 38th.

Goalkeeper Julani Archibald held a corner from Police’s left-back Nequan Caruth and released Alvin Jones who raced down-field and tried to pick out Apai with a long ball. Police’s goalie Adrian Foncette came out of his penalty area to head the ball but it fell to Joseph who, in turn, sent a lob which landed on the roof of the net.

Foncette did well to deny Jones’ header, from Hector’s freekick, but Hector scored from close range, following a low cross from the left by Joseph, to give Connection a 2-0 halftime lead.

Both teams had chances early in the second half, but the introduction of the Perry brothers, Jameel and Kareem, had massive implications for the Police outfit, for varying reasons.

Jameel Perry trimmed the lead in the 67th, as he skipped past left-back Triston Hodge and slotted a low left-footer to the right of Archibald.

The other Perry, Kareem, had an moment with Hodge that he soon regretted as an off-the-ball incident, in the 76th, was spotted by referee Crystal Sobers who issued a red card to the midfielder.

Police could have equalised in the 90th minute when substitute Joshua Leach met Jameel Perry’s header but was saved, point-blank, by Archibald.

But it was an error from the unconvincing Thomas that put the game beyond the reach of the lawmen. The midfielder was caught in possession by Neil Benjamin who surged down the right and squared to Hector whose diving header flew past the flat-footed Foncette.

Teams -

W CONNECTION: Julani Archibald; Maurice Forde, Gerard Williams, Triston Hodge, Alvin Jones; Briel Thomas, Weslie John, Marcus Joseph (Malik St Prix 85th), Dimitrie Apai, Neil Benjamin; Hughtun Hector (capt) (Jameel Antoine 90th).

POLICE FC: Adrian Foncette (capt); Ryan O’Neil, Dexter Alleyne, Jibri McDavid, Nequan Caruth, Clevon McFee (Kareem Perry 58th); Kaashif Thomas, Todd Ryan (Jameel Perry 66th), Elijah Belgrave; Kareem Freitas, Keion Wilson (Joshua Leach 87th).