Mason Hall Secondary broke the traditional stranglehold of Scarborough Secondary and Signal Hill Senior Comprehensive yesterday when they secured the Tobago Zone title in the BG T&T Secondary Schools Football League in only their second season in the Championship Division. And they accomplished the feat without even lifting a boot yesterday.
Mason Hall have Signal Hill to thank for their SSFL "Big Five" spot as the latter held Scarborough to a 3-2 victory, when Scarborough needed a win by four clear goals to clinch honours in Tobago yet again.
Andell Noray notched a brace for Scarborough and Andel Brown added another. Jamaine Walter and Arthur Moses made sure Scarborough could not finish joint winners, as they both found the net for Signal Hill.
The result made Mason Hall only the second school outside the "big two" to capture the coveted league title in the Sister Isle, following Roxborough Composite's single triumph more than two decades ago.
In another game, Speyside avoided relegation at the expense of Bishop's High School, edging Bishop's 1-0.
At Mucurapo Road, Malick hit the net as early as the tenth minute, Brandon Victor's freekick taking a deflection into goal.
St Anthony's had the first attempt in the fourth, though, but Malick goalie Joseph Baird pushed Jarrod Williams' attempt wide of his near post.
The match resembled a mid-table clash for most of the opening period as while Malick rushed the ball energetically and defended strongly to cover up their mistakes, the "Tigers" appeared nonchalant and were easily hustled off the ball. Only Brendan Boucaud in midfield and Elton Douglas at right back were sturdy in their positions in the early going.
Malick pushed forward, Akeem "Crouch" Bailey dazzling the crowd with some deft footwork. Bailey twisted and turned, his gangly legs confusing defenders on a few occasions and threatened the Tigers' goal inthe 45th, playing a neat back heel to Hollan Joseph, who slammed his shot wide.
The Morvant-based side showed up the Tigers' underbelly and although St Anthony's striker Qian Grovesnor made some searching runs into the Malick defence, only a pair of shots from outside the area troubled Baird's goal and he competently latched onto both to maintain a clean sheet.
Malick skipper Robert Primus added insult to the Tigers' injury with a sweetly taken free kick deep in stoppage time. St Anthony's custodian Kevin Mussio had no chance, and neither did the Tigers.
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