St Anthony’s College are coming into their own as they cruised to a 2-0 win against Carapichaima East Secondary in yesterday’s Coca-Cola National InterCol semi-final at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
A first half double from super-sub Haile Beckles was more than enough for the Westmoorings “Tigers” to move into their third national final in the last five years.
Whether they can win their third title (after winning in 2011 and 2012) remains to be seen. However, the Central Zone InterCol victors did not provide them with the same threat as St Mary’s did in the North Zone final last Thursday.
Meanwhile, it’s down to the last four. The “Green Machine” will travel to the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella, and attempt to take away the dream of a treble from Naparima College as the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Premier Divsion winners and South Zone Coca-Cola InterCol champions host St Augustine Secondary in the second semi-final today.
The last time the two teams met was a comprehensive 3-1 win for Naparima at Lewis Street, San Fernando last month. It may have been a routine encounter for Naparima at the time, but it was a result that helped to mould a title-winning season for St Augustine.
Since that match, the boys from Warren Street, have won eight consecutive matches, a run which has not only seen them hoist the East Zone InterCol title, but also has also seen them come full circle; facing the team who galvanised them into action.
Teams (wired868)
St Anthony’s College (4-1-3-2): 1.Jabari Brice (GK); 20.Brent Joel (6.Kheisa Granger 46), 15.Nicholas Moyou, 18.Simon Joseph (captain), 12.Jediael Harewood (4.Haile Beckles 26); 14.Nicaya Mahon; 5.Jodel Brown (13.Shem Clauzel 56), 19.Andrew Rullow, 2.Tyrese Bailey; 7.Kathon St Hillaire, 9.Shakeem Patrick.
Unused Substitutes: 22.Oba Augustine (GK), 16.Gyasi Moore, 21.Nkosi Salandy, 24.Jaydon Powell.
Coach: Nigel Grosvenor
Carapichaima East (4-2-3-1): 1.Dejourn Charles (GK); 23.Michael Williams, 5.Darreon Thomas, 19.Tyeral Fullan (3.Kadiz Chandler 56), 30.Jerome Forte; 7.Mecaheil Alexander , 16.Daniel Pascal; 8.Theophilus Bourne (20.Kevaughn Smith 76), 13.Colin Wheeler, 6.Aaron Kennedy (captain); 9.Justin Joseph (12Kevon Williams 68).
Unused Substitutes: 18.Aaron St Clair (GK), 2.Akiem Allert, 11.Gianni Dickerson, 17.Andre St Clair.
Coach: Kevin Jeffrey
Referee: Keilon Bacchus
Man of the Match: Haile Beckles (St Anthony’s College)
National Intercol semifinal
(Tuesday 24 November)
St Anthony’s College 2 (Haile Beckles 35, 45) v Carapichaima East 0, Hasely Crawford Stadium;
(Wednesday 25 November)
Naparima College v St Augustine Secondary, Manny Ramjohn Stadium, 3:30 pm
RELATED NEWS
St Anthony’s cruise into Intercol final
By JOEL BAILEY (NEWSDAY).
ST ANTHONY’S virtually cruised into the final of the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Coca Cola National Intercol competition yesterday, by virtue of a 2-0 victory over Carapichaima in the first semi-final contest.
This game was staged at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo.
Substitute Haile Beckles scored twice, in the first half, to see the “Westmoorings Tigers” book a spot in the November 30 final, at a venue to be determined.
Today will feature the other semi-final, between Naparima and St Augustine, at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella from 3.30 pm.
The St Anthony’s team, from the opening minutes, were virtually encamped in the Carapichaima half, but, on a number of occasions, their final pass was totally lacking.
They had a close chance to break the deadlock in the 12th minute, as winger Kathon St Hillaire sent a cross from the right which was partially cleared by the defence. The ball fell to the path of Jodel Brown whose shot deflected off a defender and went wide of Dejourn Charles’ goal.
However, there was a major development in the 25th as striker Beckles came on for left-back Jediael Harewood, who was injured after going in to a tackle with Carapichaima right-back Michael Williams. As a result, winger Shakeem Patrick filled in the breach left by Harewood.
After a number of half-chances, Beckles got his name on the scoresheet in the 34th.
He got a ball on the run and, after evading left-back Jerome Forte, he expertly placed his right-footer past the left of a stunned Charles, from close range.
Carapichaima had an opportunity to level the scores, four minutes later. Forte made a surge down the middle and picked out striker Justin Joseph. The St Anthony’s back-line was slow to react to the move but Joseph’s shot nicked off the body of a defender and trickled past the right of Jabari Brice’s goal.
That error proved costly as, in the 44th, Beckles netted his second item. St Hillaire skipped past a tackle and sent a square pass across the Carapichaima defence.
Beckles was on hand on the left to swivel and hit his right-footed shot off the legs of Charles and over the goal-line.
Carapichaima were devoid of ideas in the second half, and their only opportunity of note, in the second half, took place in the 60th.
Midfielder Colin Wheeler was given space in the penalty spot, on the left, but his angled left-footed shot went wide.
After that, the Kevin Jeffrey- coached Carapichaima offered nothing to worry the Nigel Grovesnor-coached St Anthony’s outfit who, in turn, saw two goal-scoring chances squandered.
Ten minutes later, St Hillaire took a pass from substitute Kheisa Granger from the right and chipped the advancing Charles, but the ball went wide, to the keeper.
And, in the 81st, substitute midfielder Shem Clauzel saw his effort miss the target, after collecting a ball at the edge of the penalty box.
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