D/Force, Police slip up as Rangers clinch Ascension title

TERMINIX LA Horquetta Rangers clinched the 2022 Ascension Invitational Football title over the weekend, as their nearest challengers Defence Force and Police, who each needed to win to keep pace with the league leaders, both dropped crucial points.

Defence Force, who began Round 16 with 34 points, held Rangers to a 2-2 draw on Friday, at the La Horquetta Recreation Ground, Arima. That result ended any realistic hope for Defence Force, as far as the Ascension title was concerned.

Police started their game against Deportivo Point Fortin on 33 points, nine adrift of Rangers (with two more rounds remaining), played to a goalless draw at the Police Barracks, St James on Sunday.

With two more rounds of action left, Rangers have amassed 42 points, followed by Defence Force (35), Police (34) and Point Fortin (31).

After heavy rains, and an unfit outfield, forced the postponement of the earlier clash on Friday, between AC Port of Spain and Central FC, all eyes were on the Rangers-Defence Force fixture at La Horquetta.

Brent Sam’s header gave Defence Force an eighth minute lead, before Kaihim Thomas equalised, 15 minutes later, with a deflected freekick.

Nine minutes into the second half, Kadeem Corbin slotted home from close range, to give Rangers a 2-1 lead, but a well-taken shot, from Reon Moore, in stoppage time, ensured both teams shared the points.

Rangers’ coach Dave Quamina, commented on Friday’s match, “You live for these nights. All the hard training, these are the moments that you live for. I’ll like to big up the whole staff.”

With Defence Force out of contention, Police needed to win their match on Sunday to stay in the title race. But they were unable to break down a well-organised Point Fortin outfit.

Perhaps the biggest surprise on the weekend took place at the Arima Velodrome, as Moruga FC finally earned a victory, by a 3-1 margin over Central Soccer World. In another contest on Saturday, at Arima, Cunupia FC whipped Real West Fort United 3-1.