Naparima College advanced to the final of the Coca Cola National Inter Col yesterday when they defeated the “Green Machine” of St Augustine 2-1 at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella.
After the match “Naps” coach Angus Eve said his team played a good game but they didn’t score as many goals as they should have scored in the encounter.
“They created a number of chances but did not convert them. But we are into the final and that is most important. We will be facing the only team that defeated us during the Premier Division season this year” Eve said.
St Augustine, as they did in the league encounter against Naps earlier this month, took the lead in the seventh minute from a penalty spot. Midfielder Jesse Joseph was brought down in the area while on his way to goal causing the referee to point to the penalty spot. And captain Joshua Marshall stepped up and beat the Naps goalkeeper from the spot kick.
Naparima, who have won the league and South Zone Inter Col titles to date, got the equalising goal in the 46th minute when Gregory found room down the right flank and squared it back for Dass to meet nicely with a sliding kick past the St Augustine goalkeeper for the lead.
And they got their second goal and the winner from a neat build in and around the Green Machine box. The ball was then centred for an unmarked Celestine to fire home.
Only recently Eve said he was heading for a treble of titles after claiming the league, south zone intercol and now heading for the national intercol. Eve, a former national midfielder called on the West Mooring team to come out and play attacking football that the crowd will be coming out to see. The St Anthony’s ‘Tigers’ are the only team to have beaten the southern giants for the season.
But yesterday Eve said the Tigers played a defensive style of football that he hopes they will not do for the coming final on Monday.
Teams (by wired868)
Naparima College (4-2-3-1): 22.Levi Fernandez (GK); 4.Nicholas Thomas, 16.Anderson Toussaint, 19.Stephon Smith, 3.Khris Stroud (7.Akinola Gregory 46); 21.Justin Sadoo (10.Jeremiah Kesar 73), 6.Judah St Louis; 12.Jarred Dass (9.Shobal Celestin 65), 11.Shane Sandy, 8.Michael Basdeo (captain); 18.Isaiah Hudson.
Coach: Angus Eve
St Augustine Secondary (4-1-4-1): 1.Yannic Gamaldo (GK); 27.Rayhan Phillip, 3.Zion Holder, 5.Joshua Marshall (captain), 11.Kendell Boneo; 4.Ainsworth Grant; 19.Kenton James (10.Moses Jaikeran 38), 8.Jesse Joseph, 14.Tyriq Alexander, 9.Anthony Samuel (18.Dike Wilson 72); 7.Isaiah Lee.
Coach: Michael Grayson
Referee: Rodphin Harris
Man of the Match: Akinola Gregory (Naparima College)
National Intercol semi-final
(Wednesday November 25)
Naparima College 2 (Jarred Dass 46, Shobal Celestin 90+2), St Augustine Secondary 1 (Joshua Marshall 13), Manny Ramjohn Stadium;
National Intercol final
(Monday November 30)
Naparima College v St Anthony’s College, 3.30 pm, Manny Ramjohn Stadium.
RELATED NEWS
‘Green Machine’ halted
Naparima to face St Anthony’s in InterCol final
By Sean Taylor (Express).
Naparima College needed two gifts from their St Augustine Secondary opponents to seal their place in this year’s Boys Coca-Cola National InterCol final on Monday against St Anthony’s College, as the South Zone champions edged out the “Green Machine” 2-1 in a mostly one-sided semi-final at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium yesterday.
After having to travel to Tobago to get a tricky 2-1 win at Speyside High, the “Green Machine” looked as if they needed oiling near the end, as they tried to hold on for a penalty shoot-out.
The East champions were almost successful too, however lapses in concentration in their back-line ultimately cost them the match and a place in the final.
“Naps” bossed the opening ten minutes, as they strung together an endless number of passes and looked the livelier of the two teams.
17