Reigning national champion Presentation College of San Fernando got the defence of its title off to a positive start behind a 3-1 win over Trinity College, Moka in the Shell/First Citizens Secondary Schools Football League match played at the Mannie Ranjohn Stadium, Marabella, yesterday.
Winners of the newly formatted league last year to follow in the footsteps of Naparima College and Shiva Boys Hindu College, the Shawn Cooper-coached Presentation were joined on three points alongside San Juan North by Naparima, and St Augustine Secondary, both victorious on the road.
Jordan Riley set the tone of the game with an 18th minute goal which is team took into the dressing room at half-time. Six minutes following the resumption his teammate Omri Baird extended the lead to 2-0 and to ensure the opposition was out of it Shakeem Julien netted in the 87th minute. However, the visitors had the last say when Kei Phillip got his name on the score sheet with an in jury time goal in the 92nd minute.
Fatima College through an own goal by Jaheim Aguilliera allowed Bishop's to earn a 2-2 draw in their Secondary Schools football encounter at at Mucurapo last evening.
Fatima the home team dominated the game and took the lead in the third minute through Zachary Welch. Alzarius ali then doubled the lead in the 49th. After that Bishop's started to fight and Kuran Roberts got them on the score sheet in the 54th minute. Eleven minutes later Bishop's would celebrate again as Aguilliera found his own net as the teams had to share the spoils.
In other matches, QRC fought back well after initially taking the lead to also earn a 2-2 draw with East Mucurapo Secondary. QRC took the lead in as early as the 5th minute, before Mucurapo skipper Zion McLEad equalised in the 25th through a penalty. Mucurapo then took the lead thanks to an item by Shakeem Wickam in the 34th. At the half they enjoyed the lead before QRC struck back in the 51st to level the scores. Try as hard as they may both teams were unable to break the deadlock and the game ended 2-2.
Naparima College dominated its clash against St. Mary's College at Serpentine Road despite throwing away many chances. Naps took the early lead through Seon Shipply and controlled the play for the most part thereafter. However, against the run of play, the host struck back, equalising just before the half to share the half-time honours. Upon the resumption, Mark Ramdeen and Isa Bramble extended their advantage to secure all three points.
San Juan North Secondary currently sit atop the 15-team table after its opening day 3-0 defeat of promoted Valencia Secondary while Trinity College East and St Benedict’s drew goalless in Thursday’s double-header at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya.
Yesterday's Scores - Premier Division
Fatima College 2 (Zachary Welch, Azrius Ali) vs Bishop’s High School 2 (Kuran Robert, own goal -Jahiem Aguilliera)
Presentation College 3 (Jordan Riley, Omri Baird, Shakeem Julien) vs Trinity College Moka 1 (Kei Phillip)
Q.R.C. 2 vs East Mucurapo Secondary 2 (Zion McLeod, Shakeem Wickam)
St. Anthony’s College 2 vs St. Augustine Secondary 4
St. Mary’s College 1 (Spicer) Naparima College 3 (Seon Shipply, Mark Ramdeen, Isa Bramble)
Boys’ Championship Division results
North Zone
Tranquillity Secondary 2 vs Blanchisseuse Secondary 2
Diego Martin Central 4 vs St Francis College 1
East Zone
Sangre Grande Secondary 2 vs Holy Cross College 2
Arima North Secondary 5 vs Malabar Secondary 0
El Dorado West 2 vs El Dorado East 1
South Zone
Pleasantville Secondary 5 vs Fyzabad Anglican Secondary 0
Moruga Secondary 4 vs Princes Town West Secondary 0
Tobago Zone
Mason Hall 3 vs Pentecostal Light & Life 0
Speyside High 2 vs Goodwood Secondary 2
Central Zone
Gasparillo Secondary 2 vs Couva East Secondary 1
Presentation College 4 vs Preysal Secondary 2
Chaguanas North Secondary 6 vs Cunupia Secondary 0
RELATED NEWS
Pres Lions win SSFL opener.
By Andrew Gioannetti (Newsday).
PRESENTATION College San Fernando began their defence of the Secondary Schools Football League Premier Division yesterday with a 3-1 win over Trinity College Moka at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella.
The “Lions” made light work of their opponents with national junior beach soccer players Jordan Riley and Omri Baird scoring one goal each and Shakeem Julien sealing the result in the 87th minute.
Trinity East scored a consolation goal with Kai Phillip on target in the second minute of injury time.
The schools from South were well represented yesterday as a well-organised Naparima College sealed a 3-1 away win over St Mary’s College in St Clair.
Naps, led by former national midfielder Angus Eve, walked all over St Mary’s and could have won the match by five goals had luck not been with the “Saints”.
Eve’s team took a lead in the 20th minute through Seon Shippley before St Mary’s equalised ten minutes later with a brilliant effort from Tyrese Spricer.
Naps commanded the second half and got ahead again in the 53rd minute via an effort from Mark Ramdeen.
With 15 minutes left, Isa Bramble made it 3-1 Naps.
In other results, North Zone teams Queen’s Royal College and St Anthony’s shared the spoils in a 2-2 draw, the same result recorded in the match-up between Fatima College and Bishop’s High. Meanwhile, host team St Anthony’s College were mauled 4-2 by another possible title contender, St Augustine Secondary.
The league kicked off on Thursday with San Juan North Secondary recording a 3-0 win over Valencia Secondary and Trinity College East playing to a goalless draw with St Benedict’s College.