A goal on either side of the half by Mariba Des Cartes and Shaquille Williams sealed a comfortable 2-0 win for St Benedict’s over East Mucurapo in the opening match of the new look Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, yesterday.
Des Cartes gave St Benedict’s a deserved lead in the 31st minute after a period in which the southerners dominated the premier division clash. After receiving a pass inside the box Des Cartes made no mistake with a wide open goal in front him.
Diminutive number seven Williams gave his team a 2-0 lead in the 60th minute with a brilliant effort. Williams collected a pass just outside the box and cracked a left footed shot in the top corner beating the diving Mucurapo goalkeeper Terral Cambridge.
Before taking the lead the final pass let down St Benedict’s on a couple occasions. Shortly before the first half ended Travell Edwards had a decent attempt at goal, but his shot from about 25 yards failed to test the St Benedicts keeper as the ball sailed over the crossbar.
Mucurapo’s Kazim Donald unfortunately picked up a leg injury in the closing stages of the first half. With the man advantage, St Benedict's almost doubled its lead in first half injury time. After a corner kick was initially cleared by Mucurapo, the ball was struck back into the box, but the Benedict’s player could only hit the crossbar from eight yards out. Mucurapo looked to regroup as they trailed 1-0 at the half.
Mucurapo got two free kicks in the early stages of the second half but failed to test the Benedict’s keeper. In the 58th minute, Shemar Ravello who was a thorn in the side of Mucurapo for the entire evening got a good chance to score.
After a poor clearance by the Mucurapo keeper, Ravello took a shot from close to the penalty spot but could not finish.
After Williams gave the southerners a 2-0 lead, Mucurapo picked up the momentum and started to create some chances but failed to capitalise. As the match came to a close, many players started struggling with their fitness. In the 75 minute another Mucurapo player was forced to leave the field. Two minutes later, Des Cartes started suffering with cramps and he was also forced to leave the field. Both players were substituted.
In the 82nd minute Mucurapo failed again to find the target after a scramble in the box.
Ravello almost made it 3-0 in the 89th minute. Ravello found himself in the box after a brilliant run on the right side but misfired and failed to test the keeper. The final whistle came handing St Benedict’s a 2-0 victory.
In the second match at the same venue, St Mary’s College dominated the defending national Intercol champion St Augustine Secondary, defeating the “Green Machine” 3-0.
Scoring for the Saints were from Chinua Bernard in the fourth, Aaron Noel in the 15th and Ethan Shim in the 58th.
RESULTS
St Benedict’s 2 (Mariba Des Cartes 31st, Shaquille Williams 60th) vs East Mucurapo 0
St Mary’s 3 (Chinua Bernard 4th, Aaron Noel 15th, Ethan Shim 58th) vs St Augustine 0
MATCHES (Premier Division)
Today
Presentation San F’do vs Arima North, Guaracara Park, 3 pm
Shiva Boys HC vs Fatima College, Guaracara Park, 5 pm
Trinity College vs St Anthony’s College, Trincity, 3.45 pm
Carapichaima East vs Chaguanas North, Carapichaima Ground, 3.45 pm
San Juan North vs Naparima College, San Juan Secondary Ground, 3.45 pm
Tomorow (Championship Zone - Tobago)
Bishop’s High vs Speyside, Shaw Park, 3 pm
Scarborough vs Signal Hill, Shaw Park, 5 pm
Saturday (Championship Zone—Tobago)
Pentecostal L&L vs Goodwood, Signal Hill, 3.45 pm
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