Carapichaima Senior Comprehensive and Naparima College kept up their perfect records in the Central and South Zones of the BGTT Secondary Schools Football League, respectively, boasting 10-1 and 3-0 victories over Pleasantville Senior Comprehensive and Marabella Junior Secondary.
At the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella, Naparima did not look much like the polished unit that came ever so close to completing the national sweep last year. Still, they had more than enough sheen to make Pleasantville's experience a not-too-pleasant one, with captain Shahdon Winchester, a national under-16 midfielder, hitting the back of the net, and Cory Cyrus doubling up in the first half for an easy 3-0 win.
Winchester needed just two minutes to get the ball rolling, running through a crowd of players attending to Cyrus and slotted the long ball past Pleasantville goalie Curtis Carrington.
It was Cyrus' turn nine minutes later, as he headed Jamerson James's cross past Carrington with much aplomb, and the victory was complete in the 16th, when Cyrus again extended his team's tally, beating the offside trap and placing a pin-point through ball between the uprights.
Perhaps it was overconfidence against the cellar-placed team, but Naparima at times preferred to go the individual skills route and because of that ruined several promising plays. Pleasantville had a few chances of their own, but could make no headway through the Naps defence.
In the second period, some wonderful individual play from Winchester gave Naps a good chance for a fourth goal, but after he left two Pleasantville defenders in his wake, his pass across goal was muffed by Ryan Fredericks.
Amale Quashie had a chance to get his name on the scoresheet less than a minute after coming on as a 72nd minute substitute, but beat three defenders on the left, then Carrington, but not the upright.
The result would be just what Naparima needed to maintain their South dominance.
Also in the South Zone, Princes Town Senior Comprehensive scored an 86th minute penalty to cancel out a similar effort from "Pres" San Fernando's Jamal Mohammed two minutes earlier for a share of the points in the second match of the "Manny Ramjohn" double-header, while Vessigny and St Benedict's played out a 0-0 draw at Vessigny.
In the North, Mucurapo Secondary Comprehensive stopped St Anthony's College 3-1 to leap to the top of the standings on goal difference ahead of Fatima College, who were on a bye, while St Mary's College grabbed their second win, a 1-0 victory over Malick Secondary Comprehensive.
St Augustine Secondary College failed to make hay on East Zone leaders San Juan Secondary Comprehensive's day off, being held to a 0-0 draw at home by newcomers Trinity East.
Mason Hall maul Scarborough 7-2
T&T Newsday Reports.
Defending Tobago Zone champs Mason Hall ended Scarborough’s 100-percent record with a 7-2 mauling at the Dwight Yorke Training Ground, Bacolet. Action was in the BGTT Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) yesterday.
Benton Charles scored a hat-trick, Stefan Wright a double while Omar Charles and Dwane Donald added one apiece for the winners, while Kareem Arthur and Kursyl Vincent replied for Scarborough.
Jamaine Charles netted twice, while Anderson Taylor and Jelani Baldwin added one each as Signal Hill trounced hosts Roxborough 4-0.
Mucurapo overtook Fatima for the top spot in the North after they whipped 2007 champs, the “Westmoorings Tigers” St Anthony’s College 3-1 at the Fatima Ground. St Mary’s, in front of their home crowd, edged Malick 1-0 while, at Moka, Trinity held QRC to a goalless draw.
In the East Zone, the “Blue Thunder” El Dorado eased past hosts Toco 2-1 while the “Green Machine” St Augustine were held to a 0-0 draw, at home, to Trinity East. League action continues on Saturday.
‘Caps’ hammer Marabella 10-1.
T&T Guardian Reports.
Reigning Central Zone champion, Carapichaima continued its winning ways, swamping Marabella by a handsome 10-1 margin at Carapichaima yesterday. Leading the charge for the well-oiled and disciplined team was striker Phillip Wickham, who notched a well deserved hattrick in the 16th, 37th, and 57th minutes.
Wickham received admirable support from Shaquille Holder (81st and 85th) and Neil Woodrofe (13th and 72nd). Kareem Ryce, Kerron Gray and Kevin Wilson were the other marksmen for ‘Caps’.
At the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva, Chaguanas, paced by a double striker from Miguel Daniel in the 17th and 77th minute, defeated Preysal High School 4-0. And in the other match, Presentation(Chaguanas) battled to a goal less draw against Waterloo.
AT CHAGUANAS: Presentation 0 v Waterloo 0.
AT ATO BOLDON: Preysal 0 v Chaguanas Snr. 4 (Miguel Daniel 17th & 77th, Keon Regis 16, Stephen Regis 88).
AT CARAPICHAIMA: Carapichaima 10 (Kareem Ryce 21st, Kerron Gray 62nd, Shaquille Holder 81st & 85th, Neil Woodrofe 13th, 72nd, Kevin Wilson 73rd, Phillip Wickham 16th, 37th, 57th) v Marabella 1 (Dillon Massey 5th).
AT MANNIE RAMJOHN: Pleasantville 0 v Naparima 3 (Corey Cyrus 18th, 35th; Shannon Winchester 5th).
AT MANNY RAMJOHN: Presentation 1 (Jamal Mohammed 70th pen) v Princes Town 1 (Mikey Granger 72nd pen).
AT VESSIGNY: Vessigny 0 v St Benedict’s 0.
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