Former Soca Warriors striker Kerry Baptiste made it four goals in two matches for his new club, Japs North East Stars when he netted a hat-trick in his 5-2 demolition of Police FC at the Larry Gomes Stadium on Sunday.
The 34-year-old Baptiste, who scored the winning goal in a 2-1 result over Club Sando on Tuesday, his debut match got goals in the 12th, 70th and 89th minute while Gorean Highley and Reon Moore added one each as they won for the second consecutive win to move to 29 points, two more than opponents, Police.
Baptiste, the second highest scorer in the history of the Pro League behind Defence Force’s Devorn Jorsling, was a rarely used forward at defending league champions Central FC—the club he joined at the start of the season—but is already making an impact with his former side North East Stars since joining in the January/February transfer window.
A former Pro League “Player of the Year”, Baptiste brought back memories of 2009—the year he helped Joe Public capture five major titles including the Pro League crown and and T&T Football Association FA Trophy while becoming the highest scorer of a season in the Pro League.
The 34-year-old striker put Stars ahead on 12 minutes when he guided a right footer past goalkeeper Adrian Foncette from just inside the area after latching onto a defence-splitting pass from Anthony Wolfe, another January/February transfer window addition by the Ross Russell-coached club.
Foncette then gifted Stars’ their second goal when an attempted clearance slammed into the body of Gorean Highley, who gathered the loose ball and fired past into the goal.
Another giveaway by Police midfielder and captain Todd Ryan eight minutes inside the second period offered Highley a look on goal from 24 yards out with Foncette off his line, however Highley struck high in his attempt to lob the Police goalie.
But in the 70th minute Baptiste fired past Foncette off substitute Reon Moore’s right side cross for a 3-0 lead and in the 76th Moore got on the scoresheet himself after eluding two defenders.
Police FC finally got on the scoresheet after being kept at bay by former T&T youth player Glenroy Samuel in the 79th-minute through substitute Dylon King, but Baptiste, was still not done and capped off a decent passage of passes by completing his hat-trick before Makesi Lewis got a second item for the Lawmen with his 15th league goal of the season to top all scorers.
Police will have a chance to get back on track when it faces W Connection tomorrow (Wednesday), at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva from 8pm while San Juan Jabloteh and Morvant Caledonia United meet at Malabar from 4pm in two re-scheduled matches.
Results
Sunday’s Result:
North East Stars 5 (Kerry Baptiste 12th, 70th, 89th, Gorean Highley 43rd, Reon Moore 76th) vs Police FC 2 (Dylon King 79th, Makesi Lewis 90’+2)
Teams P W D L F A Pts
Central FC 20 14 4 2 48 14 46
Defence Force 20 11 6 2 45 13 39
W Connection 19 10 6 3 43 18 36
S/J Jabloteh 19 10 2 7 33 29 32
N/East Stars 20 8 5 7 28 39 29
Police FC 19 8 3 8 44 41 27
Club Sando 20 7 2 11 22 36 23
Morvant Caledonia 19 5 2 12 20 42 17
Pt Fortin Civic 20 4 4 12 18 43 16
St Ann’s Rangers 20 2 4 14 19 45 10
Upcoming fixtures
Tomorrow
Venue: Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar:
Morvant Caledonia United vs San Juan Jabloteh, 4pm
Venue: Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva:
W Connection vs Police FC, 8 pm