"QRC, we want a goal! QRC, we want a goal!"
Less than ten minutes into the second half, desperate home supporters at Queen's Royal College were urging on their team in the wake of a two-goal deficit in their BG T&T Secondary Schools Football League outing against St Anthony's College yesterday at their St Clair Avenue ground.
The result puts St Anthony's second in the SSFL North Zone behind fellow unbeaten team Malick Secondary Comprehensive-who stopped Diego Martin Government Secondary 2-0 yesterday at St Mary's Ground-on goal difference.
An impressive following of supporters on both sides, as well as many neutrals, turned up to see a strong battle. For the first 65 minutes, that comprised consistent attacks from the Tigers and slapdash defending from the Royalians.
Their defenders seemed oblivious to the diagonal ball across to right winger Micah Lewis, who repeatedly worked his way into the box, or crossed towards red shirts in the penalty area.
But it was a play through the centre of the field that brought the Westmoorings-based side their first goal. Jarrod Williams collected the ball in the middle in the 27th, faked an initial shot and slipped the ball through to Michael Bain, who could not miss from point-blank range.
It took the Tigers six minutes after the break to double their advantage, Williams' (J) free kick from distance breaching the QRC wall and beating custodian Yannick Ducharisse to his left.
Yesterday's SSFL Results
North Zone
QRC 1 (Jerrel Britto 71st) St Anthony's College 2 (Michael Bain 27th, Jarrod Williams 51st)
Malick Sec Comprehensive 2 (Akeem Bailey 67th, Kaydian Gabriel 87th) Diego Martin Govt Sec 0
Fatima College 3 Mucurapo Sec Comprehensive 2
East Zone
San Juan Sec Comprehensive 1 (Neil Mitchell 10th) St Augustine Sec Comprehensive 0
El Dorado Sec Comprehensive 3 (Brendon Burke 2nd; Jamal Gay 8th, 63rd) Hillview 2 (Ronaldo Reyes 20th; Kevin Lewis 70th)
Malabar 0 Toco 0
Central Zone
Carapichaima Sec Comprehensive 4 (Phillip Wickham 10th, 57th; Jeffon Cornwall 59th; Jesse Matthews 72nd) Chaguanas Sen Comprehensive 0
Presentation College 3 Tabaquite Composite 0
Marabella Jr Sec 2 Waterloo High School 2
South Zone
Siparia Secondary 0 Princes Town 0
St Benedict's College 0 Naparima College 5 (Jason Joseph [3]; Isaiah Smith; Jarred Bennett)
Presentation College 2 (Stephen Campbell 47th; 76th) Moruga Composite 0
Tobago Zone
Mason Hall 0 Scarborough Secondary 0
Girls Championship
Scarborough Sec Girls 2 (Forisha Sandy 11th; Shari Guerra 28th) Mason Hall 1 (Alicia Baptiste 45)