While leaders Defence Force were stumbling to a 1-0 defeat to North East Stars, a rasping second half strike from substitute Nathan Lewis gave nearest rivals Caledonia a 1-0 victory from a good game against defending champions W Connection.

Caledonia (32 points) have cut the nine point advantage leaders Defence Force (36 points) held two weeks ago to just four points, and also have a match in hand.

They can get further closer on Wednesday when they play their outstanding fixture against North East Stars at the Ato Boldon Stadium, before facing Defence Force in Friday's top-of-the-table showdown for the top spot, an encounter that could well decide the league winners. Five match days are left in the season.

At the Marvin Lee Stadium, Glen needed no second invitation to put the ball into an open net for the 16th minute match winner after Defence Force reserve 'keeper Sheldon Clarke dropped a cross at his feet.

Meanwhile, down Couva, a very good match was separated only by a brilliant piece of finishing from Lewis just 18 minutes after he came on as a substitute for industrious Argentine midfielder Miguel Romero. Lewis, who began the season in the striker's position, cut in from the left flank and ripped a bullet that Colombian custodian Alexandro Figueroa watched all the way as the ball nestled high into the far corner of the net.

"Now, that is a goal!!" Who said it, no one knows. But it was indeed a gem.

The match was gripping without being quite heart-pumping and highly-competitive, but just short of mouth-watering. The passing was intricate at times and movement quick, especially in the first half. Caledonia had been threatening prior to getting the winner, but W Connection were better in the first half.

Moments before finally picking the ball out of his net, Figueroa was desperately scrambling across the W Connection goal as Densil Theobald's shot from outside the penalty area only just missed is intended mark. Taking his crack a minute later from a more acute angle, Lewis got it picture perfect.

W Connection had a couple good chances to lead in the first half. Live-wire Joevin Jones lined up a shot from the centre of the penalty in the 20th, but AIA goalie Zane Coker saved with his legs, while on the half hour a solo run took W Connection's Surinamese midfielder Stefano Rijssel passed three tackles before delivering the ball perfectly to Andrei Pacheco at the back post. Confronted by a desperate Coker, striker Pacheco punted into the side-netting.

Fans, few as they were, had lots to say.

"Push it Jonsey. Push it," emotional owner David John Williams shouted many times, while W Connection fought for the equaliser late in the match.

"Densill yuh mad!" were the words of under-pressure Caledonia supporters, when the Trinidad and Tobago captain lost the ball outside the penalty area. "Match fixing. What kinda pass is that?"

Referee Neil Brizan had the final word when blowing the match off. But, not before John Williams got in his own.

"That was no foul. He fell," John-Williams commenting when his player Joevin Jones went down. "That was a poor call, But, we go take it."

DIGICEL PRO LEAGUE STANDINGS: Teams P W D L GF GA GD Points Defence Force 16 11 3 2 43 17 26 36 Caledonia AIA 15 10 2 3 42 21 21 32 W Connection 15 7 4 4 27 16 11 25 North East Stars 15 6 6 3 19 13 6 24 Central FC 15 6 4 5 21 24 -3 22 Police 16 3 5 8 22 31 -9 14 St. Ann's Rangers 16 2 4 10 19 40 -21 10 T&TEC 16 2 2 12 12 43 -31 8