PRESENTATION COLLEGE of San Fernando (six points) remained early leaders in the Premier Division of the Secondary Schools Football League after winning 2-1 away at Queen’s Royal College yesterday, maintaining a 100% record after two matches.
St Anthony’s College (six) and Naparima College (six) are also perfect after two games after edging East Mucurapo Secondary and Trinity College East 2-1 and 3-2 respectively, while defending champions Fatima College opened their league defence with a huge 8-0 home win over newcomers Miracle Ministries, who have now conceded 14 goals in two matches.
And San Juan North Secondary conceded a decisive second half goal when losing 3-2 to Signal Hill Secondary.
Having drawn goalless on Wednesday, St Benedict’s College and Arima North Secondary both picked up wins yesterday and are now on four points, Arima swamping newly-promoted St Augustine Secondary 5-0 and St Benedict’s defeating Tobago’s Speyside High School 3-1.
On QRC ground, goals on either side of half-time by Isaiah Jacob (27th minute) and Caleb Boyce (70th) saw the Southerners comfortably take a 2-0 lead before winger Micah Nelson curled a free-kick in at the back post for a QRC consolation in the 88th minute.
It was more difficult than their season-opening 6-0 stroll past newcomers Miracle Ministries Pentecostal, but “Pres” always looked the more dangerous side against a QRC team which had loads of passive possession, but mainly played the ball in their own half.
QRC keeper Shemuel Cassimy denied Presentation early chances through strikers Vaughn Clement and Caleb Boyce, but it was the keeper’s error which led to Jacob putting Presentation into a 1-0 lead.
Failing to lift an attempted clearance over Boyce, Cassimy also got a weak punch onto the rebound, leading to the ball falling to Jacob, who lobbed it into an unprotected net.
Making up for his earlier error, Cassimy twice saved shots from Jacob to keep QRC in the match, first smothering the ball at the back post, and then saving with his legs when the Presentation attacker broke through from the left flank.
“We made it difficult on ourselves. We should have been 4-0 up at the half,” stated Presentation coach Shawn Cooper, who explained that he had easily worked out QRC’s attempt to play the ball out, leading to his team winning many turnovers by pressing the Royalians.
Having come out just a goal down, QRC almost had an explosive second half, when flanker Nelson had the ball in the net within 30 seconds of kick-off, but eager to meet Stefon James’ pass he strayed into an offside position and referee Nathalia Williams disallowed the goal.
Despite a much improved QRC second period showing, Presentation were able to extend their lead to 2-0, after Boyce raced onto a through ball, eluded his marker and dinked his shot over the QRC goalie, for his fifth goal into two matches, having scored four against Miracle Ministries.
Having seen his team gain a late consolation, Kenwyne Jones, the former T&T national captain and English Premiership striker was still unimpressed.
“It was disappointing. Disappointing from start to finish for us,” said Jones, who felt QRC looked nothing like what they showed in pre-season.
He plans to work on their defending and decision-making.
YESTERDAY’S SSFL RESULTS:
Presentation 2 (Isaiah Jacob, Caleb Boyce) QRC 1 (Micah Nelson)
St Benedict’s 3 (Adam Pierre, Sahri Mitchelle, Ethan Trotman) Speyside 1 (Hyon George)
Arima North 5 (Michel John 2, Christian Gomez 2, Ethan Trotman) St Augustine Secondary 0
Fatima 8 (Kedan Trestrail 2, Josiah Gobin 2, Michael Chaves, Mathew Barrington —penalty, Levi Smith, Luke Correia) Miracle Ministries 0
St Anthony’s College 2 (Jamal Thomas, Terique Theobald) East Mucurapo 1 (Keysan haynes)
Malick 3 (Tyrese Manswell, Jahseem Daly, Ronaldo Richards) St Mary’s 1 (Kyle Phillips)
Naparima 3 (Aaron Raymond 2, Israel Joseph) Trinity East 2
Signal Hill 3 (Jermaine Morgan, Kyle James, Israel Trim) San Juan North 2 (Jaheim Danclair, Jelani Valentine)
SOURCE: T&T Express
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