A SUCCESSFULLY converted penalty from Princes Town West striker Anderson Toussaint was just enough for the boys in gold and green to be crowned champions of the Coca Cola Intercol South Zone division yesterday, as they dethroned 2012 winners Shiva Boys Hindu College 1-0 in a tightly contested encounter at Skinner Park, San Fernando.
This crucial win also propelled the persistent Princes Town West team into the Intercol semi- finals which kicks off next week. The victors started positively as Toussaint boldly announced his presence with a shot just over the crossbar in the fifth minute. Minutes later, Shiva Boys forward Levi Garcia, threatened, but had his on-target right-footed shot scooped up by the attentive goalkeeper Kevin John.
The Penal-based team continued to string a few passes together early on, but never seemed to have the finishing touch. Fifteen minutes in, a handled ball by Princes Town player Kereem Gill resulted in a yellow card. However, Garcia’s free kick attempt on goal once again fell into the safe hands of John.
In the 31st minute, a mad tussle in the Shiva Boys penalty area resulted in an unexpected hand-ball by defender Shaquille Jogie, which presented Princes Town with a golden opportunity to go ahead. Toussaint then stepped to the plate and blasted his right-footed shot into the left corner to send them 1-0 up.
The advantage saw Princes Town regain control of the remaining minutes of the first half, as Toussaint continued to pose an offensive threat. Garcia still showed glimmers of brilliance but failed to find the back of the net at the break.
Upon resumption, Shiva Boys pressed for the much-needed equaliser. Preventing their advance however, was a strong defensive line. As the second-half trickled along, it was visible that the wavy and slippery Skinner Park turf proved to be a player hindrance. Both teams began substituting players, as Shiva tactically tried for the equaliser, while Princes Town pressed further for a two-goal advantage.
With approximately 15 minutes to go of normal time, Shiva Boys was dealt a devastating blow as their star defender, Jogie, was handed his second yellow card of the match for a trailing elbow on Kiel Rebiero.
In the dying minutes, Toussaint found space in the box, but could only head wide of the mark. A determined Shiva Boys continued to press as the Princes Town defence seemed to tire as the clocked winded down.
Anticipation built in the stands as the Princes Town West posse chanted “Victory Victory” and called on the referee to blow off the game. With three minutes added on, relief would come to the Princes Town camp at the end, as students and supporters stormed the pitch in celebration of a somewhat tame South Zone Intercol final win.
Princes Town dethrone South InterCol champs
By Kern De Freitas (Express).
Princes Town West Secondary’s fairytale run in Coca Cola InterCol will continue after they pulled off a 1-0 victory over Shiva Boys at Skinner Park, San Fernando yesterday to dethrone the South Zone champions.
The team in green and gold whisked the South title back to Princes Town in a display that gained few points for its aesthetic value, but silverware for its effectiveness.
A first half penalty, a little luck and a lot of dogged defending got them there, and left P Town celebrating after the Skinner Park lights were turned off.
Though it was neither the contest nor the half-time score one would have expected in the South Zone final, P Town defied both odds with a mixture of stout defending and urgent counter attacking.
They created more of the first half chances, and threw numbers behind the ball when required to defend. In front of goal they were little more than shy, unable to convert their chances.
As defending champions, Shiva Boys would have been disappointed with their showing. They were better technically but not as desperate as their opponents.
But it took a Shiva Boys gift to get P Town ahead from the penalty spot, Anderson Toussaint burying his shot past Nicholson Gordon in Shiva Boys’ goal in the 31st.
Try as they might, the Penal Boys could find no redemption before the break.
Twice in the first five minutes Shiva Boys came close, but a miss and the intervention of goalkeeper Kevin John kept Princes Town West ahead.
Again P Town got better chances that they failed to finish, and Atiba Marshall was even booked for diving.
Shaquille Jogie put in a cross that would have been deadly if any Shiva Boys teammate was there to finish. He turned villain in the 77th, being sent off for an elbow on Kiel Ribeiro as he collected a second yellow card.
It made it easier for P Town to see out the final minutes for the South title and a place in the national InterCol, even after Keon La Rode wasted a one-on-one with Gordon late on.
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