Fraser shoots Stars to Goal Shield title

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC):

Sean Fraser became the toast of North East Stars, when his second-half strike earned them the Trinidad & Tobago Pro League Goal Shield in a 1-0 victory over San Juan Jabloteh in the final on Friday at the Marvin Lee Stadium.

The Jamaican forward scored in the 76th minute to give the Stars a memorable victory, after they were forced to play the last 35 minutes with 10 players, following a second yellow card for hard-tackling midfielder Jeromie Williams.

In an incident-marred match for the Sangre Grande-based side, they also had to replace first-choice goalkeeper Michael Woods midway through the first-half, after he picked-up a deep gash on his right shin.

The Stars, whose line-up also included Jamaican Kimarley McDonald, as well as Guyanese Randy Jerome and Carey Harris, had been put under pressure from early.

Creating chances

They allowed Jabloteh to take control of the match, and create the best chances in the first half.

Woods was forced to save a long-range shot from Jabloteh left-back Noel Williams, held onto a low drive from national midfielder Atuallah Guerra, and also denied Hector Sam from a Guerra feed.

It was not all one-way traffic though, but Fraser managed to squander a chance to put his team ahead, firing wide of the goalkeeper Cleon John and the gaping goal, after he was released through the centre of the Jabloteh defence.

About 10 minutes before half-time, Stars suffered a blow, when Woods raced off his line to cut out an intended pass for Jason Marcano, and the two players collided.

Marcano wobbled to his feet, after medical treatment, but Woods had to be stretchered away and taken to hospital.

Keeping things clear

Stars were prompted to put Winslow McDonald of St Vincent & the Grenadines between the sticks for Woods, and he kept things clear up to half-time.

After the break, Stars suffered another setback, when Williams fell to the ground under no serious challenge, and referee Neil Brizan showed him a second yellow card, which expelled him for the rest of the match.

To their credit, the Stars did not allow this to slow them down, and they were rewarded, when Fraser ran onto a through ball, and beat advancing Jabloteh custodian Cleon John high to his left to put his team ahead.

In the last 15 minutes, the Stars came under increasing pressure, and Jabloteh could have had the equaliser, when Cyrano Glen fired across the goal after some nifty ball control, and Jerrol Britto blasted over the bar from inside the area.

With a few ticks left on the clock, an unmarked Glen should have forced extra time, after Britto set him up, but he side-footed over the bar, to the chagrin of Jabloteh supporters and his coach.