St Ann's Rangers and Morvant Caledonia United were winners on the opening night of the Digicel Pro Bowl Qualifiers on Friday night at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, and have advanced to the main draw of the tournament on May 10.
In the opening match Rangers clobbered Club Sando 3-0 courtesy a double strike from Anslem ‘Worm’ Jackson while Caledonia, the new Lucozade Goal Shield champs, needed penalties to take care of Point Fortin Civic Football Club, after both teams were locked at one-apiece at the end of extra time.
Coincidentally, the victories came at the expense of two teams they were required to beat in the qualifying round of the recent Lucozade Goal Shield. More than three weeks ago the St Ann’s men edged Sando 1-0 and Caledonia were comfortable 3-0 winners over Civic. “Worm” Jackson made the difference for his team in their victory, scoring twice and setting up the third in the first half.
Rangers took a business-like approach early in the match and were rewarded for it when Jackson opened the scoring after just six minutes. After a period of domination ‘Worm’ added another item in the 29th minute to gave his team a two-goal cushion.
Jackson, who joined Rangers only in January at the opening of the transfer window, gave up the opportunity at his hat-trick when, with only the goalkeeper to beat, he unselfishly released to an open Sedale Mc Lean to seal the win with his goal in the 35th minute.
Jackson, who was listed as a substitute got the nod from coach Angus Eve at the last minute, ahead of mid-season signing Johan Peltier. After the resumption Angus Eve’s Rangers held firm in defence and prevented all attempts by their opponents of a come-back.
Sando forward Devon Modeste had the best scoring chance for the southerners with 12 minutes left, but the ex-Rangers captain fumbled his attempt after Jesse Downing lifted a Kevon Neaves’ free kick across the area.
Civic, like Sando, made their entry into the T&T Pro League from the Super League, but have to date recorded their lowest ever finish at 8th following their fourth in (2013/14), fifth in (2014/15). Caledonia took the lead on 51st minutes through Guyana international Sheldon Holder, who was the scorer of a double on Sunday last in the Goal Shield final. However Civic got the equalizer from Juma Clarence, the ex-TT youth stand-out in the 15th minute to push the game into penalties.
Caledonia were clinical in the shootout with captain Kareem Joseph, Akim Armstrong, Holder, Robert Primus and Pernell Schultz all beating Civic goalie Miles Goodman. Civic were perfect after their first two penalties until veteran Kelvin Modeste fired his shot against the crossbar after Andrei Pacheco and Clarence had beaten Marvin Phillip in the Caledonia goal.
Later Ronell Paul slotted the fourth Civic kick but his side couldn’t avoid exit.
Like the just concluded Lucozade Sport Goal Shield, Civic, Sando, Caledonia and Rangers, due to their bottom-four positions on the Digicel Pro League standings, were paired into the qualifying round to decide on wo teams to join the top six clubs, which includes defending champions Central FC, San Juan Jabloteh, Defence Force, W Connection, North East Stars and Police FC.