CHAMPIONS and leaders Fatima and St Benedict’s College, both won yesterday to maintain the top two positions in the Premier Division of the Secondary Schools Football League.
Late goals by Jaheim Bailey and Caden Trestrail saw Fatima (16 points from six matches) winning a local derby 2-0 over a stubborn St Mary’s College, while Cameron Burke and Ethan Trotman both scored as St Benedict’s College handed Malick Secondary a second successive defeat, edging them 2-1, Josante Duncan scoring for the Morvant school.
Meanwhile, Vaughn Clement’s 39th minute goal saw Presentation College San Fernando (12 points) get past East Mucurapo Secondary 1-0, moving them up to fourth. They leapfrogged Arima North Secondary (ten), who dropped points in a 0-0 draw with mid-table Queen’s Royal College. Going into their match in third spot, unbeaten Arima North failed to win for the third consecutive match, this time against a hot-and-cold QRC at the Arima Velodrome. And San Juan North (ten) also won comfortably over the bottom team Miracle Ministries Pentecostal High School to move up to fifth.
There was no divine intervention for Miracle Ministries in their visit to Bourg Mulatresse, where Jadiel Joseph’s first half hat-trick led San Juan North to a 3-0 win over the promoted Central Zone school.
Always one of the title contenders, San Juan head coach Jerry Moe surprisingly stated that this season was one of consolidation, having lost half of the six matches they have played.
“We knew it would be a tough season this year because we didn’t do much recruiting,” Moe said. “We had to go from internally and we lost some key pieces from last season. Very difficult for us this season, but we just trying to survive this season, and build for next season,” Moe added.
Things are even more difficult for Miracle Ministries Pentecostal, who dropped back to the bottom spot as they were passed by Speyside Secondary, who defeated Trinity East 2-1 for their first win of the season.
Miracle Ministries temporarily moved off the bottom following a shock 1-0 win over QRC, but have now conceded 20 goals in six matches, while losing five times. Their opponents yesterday, San Juan North, bounced back to winning ways after two defeats last week to Trinity East (3-2) and Fatima (4-1).
Joseph got first half goals in the 19th, 33rd and 37th minutes, following an opening period where the visitors put up sturdy defending and also had the occasional chance at the other end.
Joseph finally broke through when sweeping in the rebound following frenetic defending which saw Jaheem Danclair’s initial shot cleared off the line. Joseph then pounced twice from wide-right to score with a powerful shot to complete his first half hat-trick. There were also chances for Danclair to put in a few as well, while Jahdel Chase-Charles headed over one of several dangerous in-curling free kicks from Lindell Sween.
Danclair and Chase-Charles were both withdrawn early in the second half when Miracle Ministries regained their earlier solid defensive structure, and again proved difficult to break down. Miracle Ministries head coach Marcus Rivers said his instruction to his players was to keep possession and stay in the match.
YESTERDAY’S SSFL RESULTS:
San Juan North 3 (Jadiel Joseph 3) Miracle Ministries 0
Fatima College 2 (Caden Trestrail, Jaheim Bailey) St Mary’s 0
East Mucurapo 0 Presentation Sando 1 (Vaughn Clement 39)
Malick Secondary 1 (Josante Duncan) St Benedict’s 2 (Cameron Burke, Ethan Trotman)
Arima North 0 QRC 0
Speyside High 2 (Riquelme Phillips 2) Trinity College East 1 (Khaleem Prince)
St Augustine 3 (Giovanni Hospedales, Shumba Cudjoe, Marcelle Valentine) Signal Hill 3 (Isreal Trim, Kyle James)
Naparima College vs St Anthony’s College postponed due to a school function.
SOURCE: T&T Express
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