JOE PUBLIC scooted four points clear atop the Digicel Pro League standings after beating Ma Pau 3-1 in the opening round of the season-ending Big Six competition on Sunday, while second-placed Caledonia AIA fell 1-0 to W Connection.

Tonight, the Eastern Lions will be looking to push further ahead when they take on defending Pro League champions San Juan Jabloteh in the second match of a double-header featuring the top teams at Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya.

In the 6 p.m. opener, Caledonia AIA and Ma Pau will attempt to bounce back from their defeats on Sunday.

Two days after they were beaten 1-0 by Defence Force in the First Citizens Cup final, Joe Public were comfortable against Ma Pau after building a three-goal lead through Japanese midfielder Yu Hoside (35th minute), Trent Noel (38th) and leading marksman Kerry Baptiste (41st), who was scoring his 30th league goal of the season.

Dwayne James (43rd) got the lone goal for Ma Pau just before half-time.

In Sunday’s other game, a lone goal from Dominican Republic striker Jonathan Frias (49th) gave W Connection victory over Caledonia AIA.

The other scheduled match between San Juan Jabloteh and Defence Force was not played as 11 members of the Jabloteh squad were sick after picking up a ’bug’ following their CONCACAF Champions League match against DC United in Washington DC, USA.

A Pro League source confirmed that Jabloteh are expected to play tonight

Success often is contagious and after winning the First Citizens Cup on Friday night, Defence Force head coach Ross Russell declared his intention to have the Army also win the Digicel Pro League Big Six competition.

Defence Force play their first match at seven o’clock tonight when they travel to Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva for a tough showdown with W Connection.

’Our hopes will surely be to finish high so that we can return to the CONCACAF club level,’ said coach Russell.

Defence Force were once recognised as the powerhouse of the Caribbean and a very competent force in CONCACAF, having won the CONCACAF Champions Cup (now called the CONCACAF Champions League) in 1978 and 1985. They were also runners-up in 1987 and 1988.

’I know that it will take a lot to accomplish such a task, but we are keeping our focus. It will mean that all the top clubs will have to drop points by either losing or drawing and we will need to win all our matches. So we will do our part by being focused and try to win all five matches in the Big Six,’ Russell said.

DIGICEL PRO LEAGUE

BIG SIX RESULTS:

ROUND ONE

Sunday

Ma Pau 1 (DwayneJames 43rd) vs Joe Public 3 (Yu Hoside 35th, Trent Noel 38th; Kerry Baptiste 41st)

W Connection 1 (Jonathan Frias 49th) vs Caledonia AIA0

TODAY’S BIG 6 MATCHES

6 p.m.-Caledonia AIA vs Ma Pau SC, Marvin Lee Stadium

8 p.m.-Joe Public vs San Juan Jabloteh, Marvin Lee Stadium

7 p.m.-W Connection vs Defence Force, Ato Boldon Stadium