St Augustine Senior Comprehensive got past their biggest rivals for the 2004 season in San Juan Senior Secondary by a 2-1 scoreline yesterday to secure the BG T&T Secondary Schools Football League East Zone title and a place in the National "Big Five" finals.
St Augustine were expecting a battle and they got one as although they had a stronger start to the match, it was San Juan who produced the first good chance when Terryl Elwin ran onto a pass in front of goal and, with just goalkeeper Nigel Parris to beat, inexplicably lobbed overbar.
Both teams seemed eager to get on the scoresheet, but none looked like getting close enough to the target until ten minutes into the second half St Augustine finally took the lead, Shastri Spencer running down the left and though the ball was scrambled away it landed in the path of teammate Calderon. He could not control, but defender Aaron Ambrose, in attempting to clear the ball, drove it to the left of McCletchie.
In the 61st minute St Augustine made it 2-0, Spencer latching onto the ball after McCletchie bungled a low save and driving it in at the far post.
The goal seemed to spur San Juan to life and they got the item in the 70th minute, Michael Brown out-jumping the St Augustine defence to head a looping left side corner kick into the far left corner.