Naparima College remained ahead in the Premier Division of the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) despite being held to a 2-2 draw by Queen's Royal College (QRC) at St Clair yesterday.
The result could well favour the southerners as they face third from bottom Trinity College Moka in their final match on Saturday at their Lewis Street San Fernando home.
Naparima jumped out in front as early as the first minute when the dangerous Judah St Louis found the net. With relegation to the Championship Division next year at risk, the Royalians found themselves in more trouble when St Louis fired in his second goal of the match to take his team comfortably in the lead at the half time interval.
But QRC's never-say-die attitude which came to the fore in their last three matches, again was the deciding factory. John Paul Rockford, the former national Under-15 captain made his presence felt by pulling a goal back in the 41st minute, before Marc Robertson found the equalizer in the 61st to ensure a share of the points. QRC have now gone to 15 points while the southerners moved to 30 points, two points adrift St Anthony's.
The West mooring Tigers played to a hard-fought 3-3 tie at home with Presentation College to move to 28 points in second. But Pres have now gone to 23 in fourth while Shiva Boys took third on a better goal difference.
The Penal boys thrashed Signal Hill 4-0 at home in front an appreciative crowd, but it could all be in vain if the Disciplinary Committee of the SSFL rules that they use influential midfielder Kierron Mason in their matches although he was not transferred from his T&T Super League club Marabella Family Crisis Centre.
Burdened by issues of protests over their head, Shiva striker Junior Asson sought to bring some relief by scoring a hat-trick of goals in the 34th, 55th and 57th while Tyrell Baptiste added another in the 70th.
At West moorings however the home team got a double from Highley Beckles and another from Jodel Brown, while Pres goals came from Darnell Hospedales in the 2nd, Jordan Riley in the 60th and Jaiye Sheppard in the 83rd.
RESULTS:
QRC- 2 (John Paul Rockford 41st, Marc Robertson 61st) vs Naparima-2 (Judah St Louis 1st, 9th)
Pres- 3 (Darnell Hospedales 2nd, Jordan Riley 60th, Jaiye Sheppard 83rd) vs St Anthony's- 3 (Highley Beckles 2, Jodsel Brown)
Carapichaima- 0 vs Trinity Moka- 0
Fatima- 1 (Joshua Wilson 34th) vs St Benedict's- 2 (Jabari Jones 65th, Keon Boney 90th)
Shiva Boys- 4 (Junior Asson, 34th, 55th, 57th, Tyrell Baptiste 70th) vs Signal Hill- 0
Trinity East- 1 (Keshorn Hackshaw 94th) vs CIC- 1 (Terron Winner 35th)
San Juan North- 4 (Isaiah Chase, Renaldo Boyce, Sherwin Williams, Tigana O’Brien) vs St Augustine- 2
Upcoming fixtures
(Saturday 28 October)
Presentation College v St Augustine Secondary, 3.40pm, Guaracara Park;
St Mary’s College v St Anthony’s College, 3.40pm, St Mary’s;
Naparima College v Trinity College Moka, 3.40pm, Lewis Street;
St Benedict’s College v Trinity College East, 3.40pm, Barrackpore;
Carapichaima East v Shiva Boys HC, 3.40pm, Carapichaima;
Signal Hill v Fatima College, 3.40pm, Signal Hill;
San Juan North v Speyside High, 3.40pm, San Juan;
QRC are on a bye
Rescheduled matches
(Monday 30 October)
Trinity College East v Fatima College, 3.40pm, Trincity;
St Augustine Secondary v Trinity College Moka, 3.40pm, St Augustine;
Shiva Boys HC v St Mary’s College, 3.40pm, Morne Diablo;
(Thursday 2 November)
Signal Hill v Trinity College Moka, 3.40pm, Signal Hill;
Presentation College v Trinity College East, 3.40pm, Mannie Ramjohn Stadium;
(Saturday 4 November)
Fatima College v Presentation College, 3.40pm, Fatima;
St Benedict’s College v Shiva Boys HC, 3.40pm, Barrackpore.
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