Defending champions St Anthony's College sounded a warning to all challengers yesterday when they mauled Tranquillity Government Secondary 6-1 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium to move into the North Zone semi-finals of the 2004 RBTT Intercol competition.
The "Tigers" seemed intent on asserting their dominance from the kick-off, their opening attempt coming in the first 30 seconds of the match. Early on "Tranquil" had had a few close calls, including a shot from Kareem Freitas that went wide in the fifth minute, and a curling free kick requiring a good save from goalie Kareem Charles two minutes later.
But Charles could do little to stop Lester Peltier from putting St Anthony's in front in the 11th minute, after he collected a fine pass in the centre of the 18-metre box and beat the 'keeper.
The 2003 champs were also guilty of wasting several good plays, but they doubled their lead through Peltier, as he placed himself between the 'keeper and a defender to deflect a cross into the goal.
Tranquil would not give up, though, and kept searching for an opening, but they were hard-pressed to get past the sturdy St Anthony's defence. Even when they found an opportunity, their shooting was wayward, and no trouble for goalkeeper Keegan Davidson.
The Westmoorings squad made it 3-0 in the 34th, when Akil De Freitas produced an impressive solo run, collecting outside the area and weaving past two defenders before side-stepping the goalkeeper and walking the ball into the goal.
Tranquillity continued asking questions, though, and found the answer in the 44th minute when Ricardo Peltier did well to round a defender on the left and enter the area, sending an excellent cross which was met by the head of a diving Chuvalos George, the ball landing beyond Davidson for a 3-1 scoreline at the half.
The Tigers wasted no time getting another on the restart, Brendon Boucaud shooting into the net after confusion in the Tranquil penalty area in the 46th. Tranquil were then very unfortunate when Peltier's (R) shot, having beaten defenders and 'keeper, rebounded off the upright to spare the Tigers blushes.
But St Anthony's substitute Daniel Highly helped his side bury their opponents, winning two penalties after being brought down in the 72nd, which Troy Thompson calmly put away, then again in the 76th, which Peltier netted for his hat-trick.
In the second match of the double-header, Malick Senior Comprehensive got past QRC 3-1 to earn the chance to face the Tigers next week in the first semi-final.
Today's matches will see teams from the East Zone fight to stay alive as defending zonal Intercol champs Arima Senior Comprehensive face stiff competition in El Dorado Senior Secondary at 3 p.m. at the Larry Gomes Stadium, before St Augustine and Valencia meet at 5 p.m. at the same ground.
Yesterday's Intercol scores:
North Zone
St Anthony's 6 (Lester Peltier 3 (1 pen), Akil De Freitas, Brendon Boucaud, Troy Thompson (pen)) Tranquillity 1 (Chuvalos George)
Malick 3 (Kevon Ross, Aaron Moore, Victory Terry) QRC 1 (Radanfah Abu-Bakr (pen)
Central Zone
Marabella Jnr 5 (Akil Marshall 2, Akil Zephrin, Keston Grant, Clint Cummings) Union Claxton Bay 0
Tabaquite 2 Chaguanas 0
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