Jamille Boatswain came off the bench to score twice in the second half and help Civic shut out St Ann’s Rangers 4-2 in a bottom-of-the-table Digicel Pro League clash at the Larry Gomes Stadium on Wednesday.
With the victory, the Point Fortin club snapped a six-game losing streak in all competitions and pushed them one spot up the standing to 19 points, hurdling Morvant Caledonia United. Rangers are bottom of the standings with 14 points.
Meanwhile defending champions Central FC are four points clear at the summit and have an opportunity to open a seven-point gap when they face seventh-position Club Sando from 7:00pm tonight at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo in a rescheduled Round Three game. A victory will take them closer to retaining their title as there will only be three rounds of matches afterwards.
Civic opened the scoring three minutes before the break from mid-season signing Juma Clarence who fired past Rangers goalkeeper Christopher Biggette from just inside the area, giving his men a psychological advantage at the half. Rangers’ coach Angus Eve responded at the restart with the introduction of Yohan Peltier and Anslem Jackson who had immediate impact.
In less than a minute, the pair combined to force Civic goalkeeper Miles Goodman into two saves. And later Goodman was again called into action with 66th minute gone, when he put behind an attempt from Jackson. From the resulting corner, Peltier headed over.
Civic also threatened to take a two-goal lead when coach Leroy Deleon brought in Jamille Boatswain, who forced the custodian into a fingertip save soon after his entry. But they were not to be denied from the resulting corner, as Shackiel Henry’s swerving cross was converted by Redhead in the 72nd minute.
Boatswain then fired in his first of the afternoon for a 3-0 Civic cushion in the 75th minute by pouncing on a rebound after Biggette was tested from a long-rane effort by Henry.
Rangers, who were previously unbeaten against Civic this season 2-1 and 1-1, stormed back with a goal each from Peltier and “Worm” Jackson to reduce the deficit to one goal. Peltier bundled Keron Cornwall’s cross into the back of the net in the 77th minute and Jackson pounced on a rebound to score, after Goodman’s outstretched arms parried Cornwall’s 88th shot into his path.
Later they got a golden chance to reduce the scoreline to 3-4 in the 82nd minute but Jameel Antoine missed with the goal at his mercy when Jackson found him lurking in the area. However Boatswain ended their fight in the 90th minute, completing his double and the Civic win.
RESULTS
Wednesday: St. Ann's Rangers- 2; (Johan Peltier 77', Anselm Jackson 88') vs Point Fortin Civic- 4; (Juma Clarence 42', Akeem Redhead 72', Jamille Boatswain 75', 90')
Tuesday: Club Sando- 3; (Devon Modeste 33', 48', Shaquille Holder 46') vs Police FC-5; (Kareem Freitas 18', Makesi Lewis 36', 58', Keon Wilson 45', Dylon King 90'), Ato Boldon Stadium; W Connection-0l; vs San Juan Jabloteh-1; (Tyrone Charles 86'), at the Ato Boldon Stadium;
Morvant Caledonia United-0; vs Central FC-3; (Marcus Joseph 66', Darren Mitchell 80', Nicholas Dillon 87'), Hasely Crawford Stadium; Defence Force-0; vs North East Stars-1; (Kerry Baptiste 45'+), Hasely Crawford Stadium.