It will be a race to the end in the Premier Division of the Shell/First Citizens Secondary School's Football League (SSFL) after the top three teams in the race for the title were all in winner's row yesterday.
Leaders Presentation College, San Fernando turned back a battling St Anthony's College at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella 3-1 to maintain its advantage for the title. Despite fielding an under-strength defensive backline, the Presentation boys looked anything but hampered by the suspension of instrumental defender Justin Cornwall yesterday, with the team's attackers proving to be too much for the 'Tiger' to conquer.
After a goalless first half, the Southerners broke the ice when Jaiye Shepperd got the opener in the 66th minute. And 10 minutes later Jordan Riley, the team's prolific goal scorer doubled the team's tally with his item which brought a sigh of relief to the fans.
But despite St Anthony's goal late in the half, Jardel St Clair drilled the nail into the St Anthony's coffin with his goal on the stroke of regulation time.
The win pushed them to 32 points, still a point ahead of rivals Naparima College which triumphed 1-0 at the expense of Queen's Royal College (QRC) at the team's home ground on Lewis Street, San Fernando.
With 31 points, Naparima, being coached by Angus Eve, will have to win its next match against Trinity Moka on Wednesday in Maraval and hope that defending champion school Presentation San Juan which can total no more than 32 points. Naparima coach Eve said they can only do what they have to do which is to win their last match and wait and see the outcome of Presentation and San Juan clash.
The mathematics though is that a win for Naparima would put them on 34 points, still in hope that third-place San Juan North, which edged St Benedict's 1-0 yesterday from a solitary Renaldo Boyce strike, can hold off Presentation in its crucial encounter at home on Wednesday. For San Juan to have any chance of lifting the title, Naparima must drop points, while it need to score at least six clear goals.
(Teams)
Naparima College (4-2-3-1): 1.Levi Fernandez (GK) (captain); 5.Daquon Foster, 4.Tyrike Andrews, 12.Asukile Christopher, 8.Kodel Frontin; 17.Nathaniel Perouse, 6.Shoaib Khan (24.Jabari Lee); 19.Isa Bramble, 10.Decklan Marcelle (18.Caleb Gaspar 80), Ezekiel Kesar (13.Jeron Pantor 62); 20.Seon Shippley.
Unused Substitutes: 30.Enrique Changiah (GK), 11.Kern Cedeno, 14.Molik Khan, 15.Marvin Waldrop.
Coach: Angus Eve
QRC (4-4-1-1): 1.Jacques Poon-Lewis (GK); 12.Jabari McKell, 17.Donnell Claxton, 4.Anfernee Stokes, 6.Rawle Felix; 14.Miguel Cross (25.Jaheim Granderson 62), 20.Marc Robertson, 3.Darlon Guppy (9.Renaldo Mullings 79), 7.Darian Bradshaw (18.Nathaniel James); 8.Kalev Keil; 19.Darius Dickson.
Unused Substitutes: 30.Jumaane McNeil (GK), 5.Jakeem McNeil, 10.Naeem Bisnath, 16.Nathaniel Brown.
Coach: Kenwyne Jones
Referee: Cecile Hinds
RESULTS
Bishop's 0 vs East Mucurapo 5 (Jelani Ferry [2], Shakime Wickham, Daniel David, Malachi Celestine)
Pres 3 (Jaiye Sheppard 65, Jordan Riley 78, Jadel Sinclair 90) vs St Anthony's 1 (Kiron Manswell 85)
Carapichaima 1 (Luke Charles) vs Trinity East 0
San Juan 1 (Renaldo Boyce) vs St Benedict's 0
St Augustine 0 vs Valencia 3
Trinity Moka 1 vs St Mary's 5 (Kyle Carrington [3], Michel Poon-Angeron, Tyrese Spicer)
Latest Premiership Division Standing
TEAMS*P*W*D*L*GF*GA*GD*PTS
1*Pres*13*10*2*1*29*11*18*32
2*Naps*13*9*4*0*25*9*16*31
3*San Juan*13*9*2*2*24*14*10*29
4*Carapichaima*13*7*2*4*24*21*3*23
5*St Benedict's*14*6*3*5*22*21*1*21
6*QRC*13*5*4*4*18*11*7*19
7*Trinity Moka*13*5*4*4*21*29*-8*19
8*St Augustine*13*5*2*6*25*24*1*17
9*East Mucurapo*13*5*2*6*22*21*1*17
10*Trinity East*13*3*7*3*13*11*2*16
11*St Anthony's*13*4*3*6*22*23*-1*15
12*Valencia*13*3*3*7*19*28*-9*12
13*St Mary's*12*3*2*7*19*21*-2*11
14*Fatima*13*2*2*9*11*21*-10*8
15*Bishop's Tobago*14*0*2*12*12*41*-29*2