Tigers, Shiva Boys begin defence with a bang

Led by coach Nigel Grovesnor, the St Anthony’s squad were in to take no prisoners. The first-half was dominated by the “Tigers”, who passed the ball well. In as early as the third minute, St Anthony’s pressed for the opening goal but were denied by QRC’s goalkeeper (Keston Trinidad) and a well marshalled defence.

QRC also had some early opportunities but were denied by St Anthony’s goalkeeper Carlton Alfonso.

However, it took the defending champions just over 30 minutes to find the back of the net after an attempted shot from right-winger Kiel Pierre rebounded off the goal post and fell at the feet of Shaquile Long who made no mistake and blasted his right-footed shot into the roof of the QRC goal to send his team ahead (1-0).

Pierre also showed great athleticism in the first period and wowed the crowd with some of his sleek and skilful footwork. Before the end of first-half, both QRC and the defending champions missed several golden opportunities to increase the score-line, but all to no avail.

The second period was also riddled with many missed chances from both schools. Twenty minutes in, QRC forward Akil Morris found himself one-on-one with the St Anthony’s goalie but directed his shot toward him, wasting a golden effort. The “Tigers” continued to hunt in search of more goals as tiredness began to show on the faces of the QRC boys.

Fifteen minutes from full time, Pierre was finally rewarded for his persistence. The St Anthony’s player, on the right flank, received a defence-splitting pass, cut inside before unleashing a powerful shot to send St Anthony’s 2-0 up.

QRC’s Morris again went one-on-one with Alfonso, but once more failed to capitalise. Eight minutes from the final whistle, QRC’s Terrique Ransoms grabbed a lifeline to make it 2-1.

Their joy was short-lived as St Anthony’s forward Jonathon Cruickshank ended all QRC’s hopes with an impressive goal in final two minutes of time added on.

In the opening fixture, last year’s North Zone runners-up Mucurapo East Secondary made their presence felt with a comfortable 2-0 win over Fatima College at the same venue. Mucurapo got the ball rolling from as early as the 10th minute with a well-placed shot from captain Aaqil Campbell (1-0).

Just eight minutes later, forward Akeem Roach bagged another for the Mucurapo boys, as he slid his goal-bound effort just past the hands of Fatima’s goalkeeper John Barkley. Fatima failed to capitalise on their few chances as they started their league campaign with a defeat.

Today’s North Zone matches will see the defending champion take on Diego Martin North at home while Trinity College are on a ‘bye’.

Tigers, Shiva Boys begin defence with a bang.
T&T Guardian Reports.

Experience was the difference in attack between the two teams, as last season’s treble winner St Anthony’s College, opened its account in the BGTT Secondary Schools’ Football League (SSFL) North Zone, with a comfortable 3-1 win over Queen’s Royal College, yesterday.

Starting the season with a fresh batch of players, three of a handful who remained from last season’s successes were on target as the “Tigers” walked away with a deserved victory, in the second match of a double-header played at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo.

A close-range rebounded effort from Shaquille Long, in the first half along with well worked goals in the second session from from Kiel Pierre and Jonathan Cruikshank put St Anthony’s on top of the standings along with last season’s North Zone runner-up East Mucurapo, which defeated Fatima College 2-0, in the earlier encounter.

QRC pulled one goal back, which St Anthony’s led 2-0, through Tariq Nichols. In the opening match, East Mucurapo started off stronger despite playing on the counter-attack for large spells. Its strategy paid off with first half goals from the ever-dangerous attacker and captain Aaqil Campbell and from promising midfielder Akeem Roach.
 
Campbell finished from a close-range rebound, before Roach found the back of the net with a neat finish in the bottom right-hand corner, with a shot from outside the penalty box.

Fatima was arguably the better team in the second half, but a flurry of attempts was insufficient in seeing Fatima respond to the early blows. In the East Zone, 2011 InterCol finalist Arima North Secondary was held 1-1 by St Augustine Secondary, at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Arima.

Creative attacker Marcus Gomez, who is a new addition to the TT Pro League’s North East Stars, opened his account in the 20th minute, which took Arima into the half with a one-goal lead.

However, in the 73rd minute, his item was cancelled out by an effort from Gerard Maloney in the 73rd minute, as both teams went away with one point each.
 
The Zone’s second match also followed with a 1-1 stalemate between El Dorado West Secondary and San Juan North. El Dorado’s top forward Shaquille Bertrand scored in the 68th minute, just three minutes before Kwesi Elvin levelled for San Juan North.

Shiva Boys also started its defence of the South Zone league title strongly with a 3-0 victory over Pleasantville Secondary.

Attacking prodigy Nathaniel Garcia scored a goal in the 20th minute, before completing a hat-trick in the second half (48th, 76th). Presentation College defeated Naparima College by the same scoreline. Akil Pierre, J’van Pontiflet and Angel Williams scored the goals for “Pres”.

Opening day action in the Central Zone was postponed a day later as a result of the inclement showers.

The two matches scheduled for last evening, will now be played in a double header at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, today, beginning with a clash between Couva West Secondary and Gasparillo, from 3 pm. Zonal champions Carapichaima East Secondary will tackle Tabaquite Secondary in the second match, at 5 pm.

The other match will see Presentation College Chaguanas taking on Chaguanas North Secondary, at Presentation College Ground, at 3:45 pm.

Results

North

East Mucurapo 2 (Aaqil Campbell 6th, Akeem Roach 19th) v Fatima College 0

St Anthony’s College 3 (Shaquille Long, Kiel Pierre, Jonathan Cruickshank) v QRC 1 (Tariq Nichols)
 
South Zone

Shiva Boys 3 (Nathaniel Garcia 20th, 48th, 76th) v Pleasantville Sec 0

Presentation College S/do 3 (AKil Pierre 11th, J’van Pontiflet 52nd, Angel Williams 58th) v Naparima College 0
 
East Zone

St Augustine Secondary 1 (Gerard Maloney 73rd) v Arima North 1 (Marcus Gomez 20th)

El Dorado West 1 (Shaquille Bertrand 68th) v San Juan North 1 (Kwesi Elvin 71st)

Fixtures (Today)

North

St Mary’s College v Diego Martin North Sec, St Mary’s Ground- 3:45 pm

Central Zone

Couva West v Gasparillo, Ato Boldon Stadium- 3 pm
Carapichaima East v Tabaquite, Ato Boldon- 5 pm
Presentation College Chaguanas v Chaguanas North, Presentation- 3:45 pm

East Zone

El Dorado West v Trinity College East, El Dorado- 3:45 pm South Zone
Moruga v St Benedict’s College, Moruga- 3:45 pm