San Juan North Secondary School won its second consecutive CocaCola InterCol East Zone title, following a 2 nil win against Valencia Secondary, yesterday at the Larry Gomes stadium in Arima.
The victory ensured the boys from Bourg Mulatresse underscored their dominance of the teams in the zone in recent years. From the start of the game it was clear to see that San Juan North was the hungrier team, and understandably so, as a regular member of the cast of Premiership teams, coming up against Valencia which will only get a taste of the top flight from next season.
Chance after chance fell to the San Juan North strike partnership of Renaldo Boyce and Brandon Semper before the half, but Valencia keeper Hezron Dabro came to the rescue of his team with at least six great saves.
The 0-0 half-time score meant it was anyone’s game after the break, which set the match up for an entertaining finish. San Juan North coach Jerry Moe altered his tactics, opting for the team to play a higher line and put more pressure on Valencia, however, the change in tactic almost backfired for the coach.
Valencia put the ball in the back of the net in the 49th minute, but the fourth official came to the rescue of San Juan North, as he rightfully called the goal offside.
That decision led to a lapse of concentration on the other end and San Juan North took advantage. A long ball forward to Semper, was dispatched into the back of the net in the 50th minute. The prolific Boyce then sealed the win for the “Bourg boys” in the 79th minute after rounding Dabro and slotting in to an open net.
Once the result was all but confirmed, San Juan North dominated the rest of the proceedings as Valencia failed to inspire a comeback. Moe was proud of his team and has high hopes for his team as they move on to the national competition, saying: “We have the commitment of the players, myself, the staff, and also the faculty of the school, everyone is on a high right now and we want to go all the way again, we want to be here until December,” Moe said.
San Juan North will face either St. Mary’s College or Signal Hill Secondary in the national semi-final after a winner between those two teams is decided next Monday.
Today will signify the conclusion of the zonal finals in what will be a mouth-watering encounter between Shiva Boys Hindu College and Naparima College for the InterCol South Zone title.
The match will kick off at 3:30 pm at the Manny Ramjohn stadium in San Fernando.
Results
San Juan North 2 (Brandon Semper 51, Renaldo Boyce 79) v Valencia Secondary 0 at Larry Gomes Stadium.
(Teams - by Wired868.com)
Valencia Secondary (4-2-3-1): 1.Hezron D’Abreau (GK); 9.Kerron Kelly, 4.Jacob Wilson (5.Ronaldo Edwards 78), 15.Nathaniel De Silva, 3.Giovanni Lewis; 11.Kerdel Deverteuil, 8.Daniel La Croix (captain); 7.Andre Robinson (19.Akil Skeete 58), 10.Keegan Faria, 17.Jeremy Adolphus; 14.Remy Butler (12.Ansil Elcock 68).
Unused Substitutes: 2.Arkim Phillip, 13.Kerwin Deverteuil, 16.Kern Fraser, 22.Keiyon Henry.
Coach: Roland Clarke
San Juan North (4-4-2): 1.Shawndell Byer (GK); 20.Isaiah Chase, 7.Josiah Beard, 21.Kyle Thomas, 17.Kareem John; 8.Lukeman Brooks (19.Sherwin Williams 71), 22.Nathaniel Perouse, 3.Elair Brewster, 2.Tyrell Cameron (10.Josiah Phillip 90+2); 6.Brandon Semper (4.Kareem Grant 90), 9.Renaldo Boyce (captain).
Unused Substitutes: 30.Emmanuel Clarke (GK), 5.Keon McPherson, 16.Obadele Dickson, 26.Kellon Murrien.
Coach: Jerry Moe
Referee: Nicholas Murray
Wired868 Man-of-the-Match: Brandon Semper
RELATED NEWS
San Juan North retain East Zone Intercol.
T&T Newsday Reports.
San Juan North retained their Coca Cola Intercol East Zone crown yesterday, after a 2-0 victory over Valencia in the final at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Arima.
In the process, San Juan North joined Carapichaima East, Signal Hill and St Mary’s as the teams who have qualified for the National Intercol competition which will run from November 27 to December 4.
Forwards Brandon Semper and Renaldo Boyce were the goal-getters for San Juan North in the second half.
It was not an easy task for the San Juan North strike pair as the duo missed a litany of chances in the first half – shots were either sent wide of the mark or were thwarted by the brilliant work of Valencia goalkeeper Hezron D’Abreau.
Semper opened the scoring in the 50th minute, as he received a long ball from the left, went between a pair of defenders and slotted his right-footed shot beyond D’Abreau’s reach.
And with 11 minutes of regulation time remaining, Boyce ran past defender Andre Gabriel, rounded the advancing keeper and placed his left-footed shot into the open net.
San Juan North coach Jerry Moe, in a post-game interview, said, “It feels good. It’s what we worked for all season. We want to go all the way again.”
Valencia qualified for the 2018 Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Premier Division season and their coach, Roland Clarke, promised “good football, a very tactical team and that we can compete in the Premiership.”
The last of the Zonal finals will be contested today with Naparima opposing Shiva Boys, in the South decider, at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella. Kick-off time is 3.30 pm.
17