San Juan Senior Comprehensive sent out an emphatic statement yesterday by hammering Toco Composite 4-0 in the first match of an East Zone double-header at the Larry Gomes Stadium in Malabar.
Fans barely had chance to settle in at the stadium when Kevin Mc Neal fired San Juan ahead in the third minute. He made it 2-0 ten minutes later to put the 2007 champs in control. Antonio Girod got into the action adding to the tally in the 53rd to make it 3-0 and was again on the scoresheet in the 57th scoring a brace.
St Augustine Senior Comprehensive, second place finishers in 2007, had to battle hard to get full points against Arima Senior Comprehensive in the latter match leaving it late to get the go-ahead goal. The “Green Machine” edged “Compre” 3-2 to snatch the win.
Isiah Mejias, Atiba Hackett and Mark Flaveny were the goalscorers for the “Green Machine” while Aaron Valentine and Nicholas Armstrong responded for Arima.
Fatima College kicked off their 2008 season in impressive fashion whipping last year’s North Zone runner-up Malick Comprehensive 3-1 at Fatima Grounds yesterday.
Former national Under-17 midfielder Chad De Freitas notched a double for Fatima while Kevon Durham got the other, with Brandon Victor netting Malick’s lone item.
Meanwhile in a shock result, North Zone champions St Anthony’s rallied for a 2-2 draw against the promoted St Mary’s College at the CIC Ground, St Clair. Nicholas Walker (12th) and Veer Lakhan-Joseph (32nd) gave the ‘Saints’ a 2-0 lead before Qian Grovesnor (38th) and Ashim Pierre (68th) responded for the ‘Westmoorings Tigers’.
In the other North Zone fixture, Queen’s Royal College and Mucurapo Comprehensive battled to a 2-2 draw at the QRC Ground, with Mutar Taylor and ex-Trinidad and Tobago Under-17 midfielder Kevin Molino on target for the visitors.
In the South Zone, Vessigny edged Princes Town 1-0 in the first match of a double header at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella. Marcus Joseph slammed home the winner in the 71st minute to avenge Princes Town’s 4-0 and 1-0 wins against them last year.
South Zone champions Naparima College looks set for a successful defence of their crown with a 3-0 drubbing of Presentation College in game two of the double-header, courtesy strikes from Joshua Bachan, Keston Smith and Corey Cyrus.
Presentation Chaguanas were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Marabella, with Jeffrey Jones on target for the hosts while Dillon Massey scored for Marabella.
The day’s most lopsided result occurred at Chaguanas, with Waterloo mauling the hosts 8-0, courtesy of hat-tricks from Malcolm Nedd and Neon O’Garro, while Jaeel Jeffrey and Chris Gopaul chipping in with one apiece. League action continues on Monday.