Striker Roen Nelson(right). - file

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC)

Jamaican striker Roen Nelson is being hailed for his prolific scoring that helped Joe Public land the 2006 Trinidad and Tobago Professional Football League (PFL) title.

Nelson ended the season joint top-scorer in the PFL - on 16 goals - with San Juan Jabloteh's Anthony Wolfe and his fruitful attacking exploits propelled Joe Public to a thrilling championship win this past weekend in their first year back in the top league.

"He's a young man with a lot of potential and he is a very 'coachable' player," Joe Public coach Michael McComie told CMC Sports yesterday.

It was the third consecutive year that Nelson, on loan from Portmore United FC in Jamaica, was emerging as the top-scorer.

Playing previously in the Super League (Division 2), Nelson had netted 35 goals in 2004 and 24 goals last year to also win scoring awards.

And McComie believes he showed his quality by stepping up to the top league and again producing goals.

"He's again on top there with 16 goals (in the PFL), 20 goals overall and this says a lot for the young man because he is definitely what you would call a scoring machine," McComie said.

Joe Public clutched the title Saturday night in spite of a 3-1 loss to W Connection, who were aiming to repeat as champions.

With the win, W Connection ended the season on 65 points, the same as Joe Public, but they needed to win the match by three clear goals to surpass Joe Public on goal difference.

Nelson was one of several foreign players finishing among the top frame of scorers in the league.

St. Lucia's W Connection star Earl Jean finished third with 13 goals and Guyana's Nigel Codrington, who plays for Caledonia AIA, was joint fourth with 11 goals.