Naparima College continued its winning form and the top position in the Premiership Division of the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) by edging St Augustine 3-2 at the team's Lewis Street ground in San Fernando on Wednesday.
The Angus Eve-coached school, one of just two unbeaten teams so far, went under to the winless visitors, commonly called, the Green Machine when Tyrese Spicer converted from the penalty spot in the 21st minute, from an earlier foul that he drew.
The team took that 1-0 advantage into the dressing room at the half-time interval, before the triple crown winners came storming back at the resumption in what was an exciting second-half that saw four goals scored.
Shoeid Khan drew his team on level terms in the 48th-minute, by finding the net, to the cheers of ther home fans. And the southerners extended the lead 2-1 with a goal by Isa Bramble in the 69th-minute.
St Augustine got a goal from Jardel John in the 71st to knot-up the scores at two apiece.
And when the visitors thought they were heading for their fourth draw in five games and a share of the points, Naparima spoiled things with an 82nd-minute item from Tyrika Andrews to secure maximum points.
Meanwhile, St Mary's College received its first win of the division by surprising Malick 2-1 at its Serpentine Road, St Clair home ground.
After losses to Naps, St Benedict's College, Presentation (San Fernando) and Pleasantville Secondary to date, the inexperienced 'Saints' pulled off a major shocker with goals from Jaheim Ryan in the 21st-minute and Chad Alonzo in the 50th, to seal the win, despite Mickell Alexander's 88th-minute item.
At San Juan, the home team also collected its first win of the tournament, hammering Trinity Moka 5-0.
Prolific scorer Renaldo Boyce and Isaiah Chase got a pair of goals each, and Christom Mitchell helped himself to the other item.
At Westmoorings, St Anthony's College escaped with a 3-0 win over Trinity College East, but the easterners would have only themselves to blame for several missed chances throughout the encounter.
With the result, the 'Tigers' maintained their unbeaten run in the top flight division which ensured they stay three points behind leaders - Naps on 10 points. Trinity East has just one win from five matches, the lone victory coming 2-1 against St Benedict's College at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella on the opening day of the competition, September 11.
After making the long daring trek, the visitors should have taken the lead from Terrell Wiley. He was put through down the left side, but after doing the hard work of going past his marker, the diminutive striker, facing an open goal, miskicked at the last moment.
Soon after the home team settled in front of their home crowd and enjoyed early dominance of the game. But they had to wait until the 30th minute, however, for the opener. Kai Phillip played a give-and-go with Jordan Barclay inside the box, which put him on course with goalkeeper Nicholas Thomas. And with the goal at his mercy, Phillip calmly slipped the ball beyond the onrushing goalkeeper for the lead.
The teams went to the break with the Tigers leading 1-0, and they would extend their advantage after the resumption, as Trinity East continued to squander chances at will.
Three minutes after the break Trinity again with a glaring chance to draw level. This time Zachary Baird eludes his marker down the right before cutting inside on his favoured left foot, and with his supporters already calling it a goal, Baird's blistering drive sailed over the crossbar.
Trinity East enjoyed a period of dominance which had the St Anthony's defence retreating regular. Wiley in particularly was a thorn in their side. In the 53rd-minute, the visitors again saw a missed opportunity, when Isaiah Williams weaves his way through a crowd of defenders with the ball on his favoured right foot but fired wide of the target.
However, the team was made to pay, as the Tigers were awarded a free-kick when Kaihim Thomas was hacked down some 25 yards from the post. Thomas though picked himself up and skilfully curled the ball past the diving outstretched arms of his name-sake Nicholas Thomas in the 62nd-minute for a 2-0 advantage.
And although Trinity continued to attack in search of a goal to put its back into the contest, the Tigers drilled the final nail in the coffin when Barclay capitalized on some poor defensive marking, by rising unchallenged to head home a long throw-in late in the match.
WEDNESDAY'S RESULTS
CIC 2 (Jaheim Ryan 21st, Chad Alonzo 50th) vs Malick 1 (Mickell Alexander 88th)
San Juan 5 (Renaldo Boyce 2, Isaiah Chase 2, Christom Mitchell) vs Trinity Moka 0
Pres (San Fernando) 3 (Jaiye Sheppard 5th, Adica Ash 18th-Pen, Jardel St Clair 62nd) vs East Mucurapo 0
Naps 3 (Shoeid Khan 48th, Isa Bramble 69th, Tyrike Andrews 82nd-Pen) vs St Augustine 2 (Tyrese Spicer 21st, Jardel John 71st)
St Anthony's 3 (Kai Phillip, Kaihim Thomas, Jordan Barclay) vs Trinity East 0
Carapichaima 1 (Malik Robinson) vs Pleasantville 0
Speyside Secondary v QRC at Speyside; *—Match postponed
St Benedict’s College are on a bye.
LATEST SSFL STANDINGS
Team*P*W*D*L*F*A*GD*Pts
1*Naparima*5*4*1*0*13*5*8*13
2*Presentation*5*4*0*1*17*2*15*12
3*St. Anthony's*4*3*1*0*13*3*10*10
4*Carapichaima*4*2*2*0*6*4*2*8
5*Malick*4*2*0*2*9*5*4*6
6*Pleasantville*5*2*0*3*6*7*-1*6
7*QRC*4*2*0*2*8*11*-3*6
8*East Mucurapo*4*1*2*1*9*6*3*5
9*Trinity East*4*1*2*1*5*7*-2*5
10*Speyside*4*1*1*2*5*15*-10*4
11*Trinity Moka*5*1*1*3*5*16*-11*4
12*St. Augustine*5*0*3*2*8*11*-3*3
13*St. Benedict's*4*1*0*3*5*11*-6*3
14*San Juan*4*1*1*2*7*4*3*4
15*St. Mary's*5*1*0*4*4* 13* -9*3
Upcoming Fixtures
(Saturday 28 September)
[All games start at 3.30pm]
Trinity East v Speyside Secondary at Trincity;
Carapichaima East v Malick Secondary at Carapichaima;
Pleasantville Secondary v Naparima College at Pleasantville;
QRC v San Juan North at QRC;
Trinity Moka v St Anthony’s College at Moka;
St Mary’s College v St Augustine Secondary at Serpentine Road;
East Mucurapo v St Benedict’s College at Mucurapo Road;
Presentation (San F’do) are on a bye