T-Team's Caleb Folan (center) tries to break past Kelantan players during their Super Leaque match at the Sultan Ismail Stadium in Kuala Terengganu Saturday. - ZABIDI TUSIN / The Star

By ERIC SAMUEL – PETALING JAYA: St Vincent and the Grenadines striker Marlon Alex James notched the first hat-trick of the season when he single-handedly steered Armed Forces to a 3-1 win over 10-man PKNS FC in a Super League match at the Shah Alam Stadium. 

James put the soldiers ahead from the penalty spot in the eighth minute before Mohd Fazli Baharuddin equalised for PKNS in the 27th minute yesterday 

PKNS found themselves a man short when striker Patrick Ronaldinho Wleh was sent off for a second bookable offence in the 60th minute. 

James then sealed the three points with strikes in the 64th and 72nd minutes. 

In Kuala Terengganu, treble winners Kelantan’s stuttering start to the season continued when they lost 1-0 to T-Team at the Sultan Ismail Stadium. 

Mohd Aizulridzwan’s eighth minute goal was enough to give T-Team their first win after two matches. 

The Red Warriors are finding it difficult to cope with the loss of prolific goal-getters Norshahrul Idlan Talaha and Mohd Ghaddar Mahmoud, who have joined Johor Darul Takzim and Felda United respectively. 

Last week, Armed Forces beat Kelantan 4-3 in a penalty shootout after both teams were tied 1-1 in regulation time in a Charity Shield match. Then, on Wednesday, Kelantan left it late before edging PKNS FC 2-1, with a stoppage time winner from Zairul Fitree Ishak. 

In another match, Lions XII picked up their second straight win with a narrow 1-0 triumph over Selangor at the Jalan Besar Stadium. 

Fazrul Nawas scored the all-important goal in the 24th minute and the Lions could have had more if not for some brilliant saves by Selangor custodian Norazlan Razali. 

The Selangor defence was punished for ball-watching when Fazrul nodded in from inside the six-yard box off a corner kick. 

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