The word derby brings to mind a big contest, or rivalry, and in the context of football usually means a battle between neighbours. BGTT Secondary Schools Football League North Zone leaders Mucurapo Secondary Comprehensive and Fatima College provided just that yesterday at Fatima's Mucurapo Road Ground, before the latter came away victors by a 4-3 scoreline.
The encounter could be deemed the most exciting contest for 2008 thus far and as its plot twisted and turned this way and that, the result, for what seemed a sure win for "Compre" halfway through, could have ended with differently in a couple of desperate minutes towards the end.
The fight was for the top spot in the North, and after a sparkling performance by the twinkle-toed youngsters in mauve, they deserved every bit of their three-point lead in the standings.
Led by former national under-17 midfielder Kevin Molino--the hero who put T&T into last year's FIFA Under-17 World Championships with a winning goal away to Jamaica--Mucurapo knocked the wind out of Fatima for a 3-1 lead at the break.
Only self-inflicted wounds could have taken the match away from them at that point, and they nearly did.
Molino gave his team a 2-1 lead early on with a double strike on either side of Chad De Freitas's equaliser for Fatima, hitting the target in the 14th, then 33rd minutes, while De Freitas's item came in the 24th.
A third item in the 44th by Johan Peltier seemed enough for Mucurapo to cruise home.
In the 62nd, Mucurapo's snipers were at it again, this time Taylor finally hitting the target from a deadly, pin-point cross by Clarke.
Duff provided a spark and some added excitement, with major blunders causing his team to concede twice.
In the 71st, he could have simply picked up the ball, but tried shielding it from Kevon Durham, who poked it away from him and buried it in the back of the net.
Two minutes later, he let De Freitas in once more and it was game on at 4-3 in Mucurapo's favour.
But the goalie redeemed himself with key saves to deny De Freitas and Kaejay Ramdoo at point-blank range in the dying minutes.
In stoppage time, Akel Bruce also stopped De Freitas and substitute Phillip Coker at the near post off the loose ball.
Mucurapo held on to run away with full points and Fatima, having suffered their first loss for 2008, must regroup for their next encounter at QRC tomorrow. But the fight they showed towards the end should encourage them to that end.
Undefeated Naparima registers fifth win
By Naz Yacoob (T&T Guardian)
Title holders, Naparima registered its fifth consecutive victory yesterday, edging St Benedict’s College 1-0 in a Round Six match of the South Zone of the BG T&T Secondary Schools Football League at Manny Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella.
In the first match of a double-header, ‘Naps’ got its lone item from Shannon Winchester in the 60th minute. With second placed Vessigny remaining indoors, ‘Naps’ increased its lead to seven points and is now highly favoured to retain the championship.
In the second match of the double header, Presentation defeated Pleasantville 4-0. At Princes Town, Siparia went under to Princes Town by two goals to one.
Cleon Ayres opened the scoring for P/Town in the 25th minute, and was sent further in the lead in the 40th minute when Klevon Forrester netted.
After the break, Princes Town was put under pressure by the visitors who were able to pull back a goal in the 76th minute through Zwede Sanchez. Siparia fought desperately for the equaliser but it was denied by some stout defending by the P Town outfit.
‘Caps’ goes clear
By Naz Yacoob (T&T Guardian)
Defending champion, Carapichaima preserved its unbeaten run in the Central Zone of the BG T&T Secondary Schools Football League with a hard-fought 1-0 win over archrivals Presentation yesterday at Chaguanas.
With the win, “Caps” surged further into the lead in the six-team-standings with a maximum 15 points, seven more than second placed Waterloo.
After a goalless first half, top striker Neil Woodroffe put the champs in the lead when he netted from close up.
But “Caps” were never able to build on its advantage and in the end had to defend stoutly to deny the opposition a chance of equalising.
In the other match yesterday, Waterloo dropped two vital points in a 3-3 draw with rookie team, Preysal at Waterloo.
Waterloo led 3-2 at the halftime whistle with goals from Stephen Burton, Donnelly Gopiecharan and Shekel Dennis. Scoring for the away team were Carlos Lewis and Akido Joseph. On the resumption, Kirby Mickels tied the scores for Preysal when he scored from close up.
Waterloo missed a golden opportunity to come away with full points, muffing a penalty before the final whistle. The game between Marabella and Chaguanas did not take place because of ground problems.
Zone champions stay unbeaten
T&T Newsday
Reigning zonal champions San Juan, Naparima and Carapichaima each registered their fifth straight triumphs in the BGTT Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) yesterday.
In the East Zone, San Juan thrashed the “Dial Dynamos” Arima 6-2 at the Arima Secondary Comprehensive Ground while El Dorado, the “Blue Thunder,” moved up to second spot following a 2-1 win away to Trinity East at Trincity.
And Toco earned their first points of the season, edging Hillview 2-1 at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Tunapuna, in a face-off between the last two placed squads.
Naparima continued their march towards another South Zonal crown with a 1-0 win over St Benedict’s in the first game of a double-header at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella, while Presentation San Fernando jumped from sixth spot to third after hammering Pleasantville 4-0 in the latter contest.
Princes Town got the better of their visitors Siparia 2-1 in the other South Zone fixture. In the Central Zone, Carapichaima eased past Presentation Chaguanas 1- 0 while debutants Preysal edged hosts Waterloo 3-2.
No score was available, up to press time, in the encounter between Marabella and Chaguanas at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva.
In the showdown of the top two teams in the North Zone, Mucurapo prevailed over Fatima, in a high-scoring drama, by a 4-3 margin at the Fatima Ground.
Third-placed QRC held the “Westmoorings Tigers” St Anthony’s to a 2- 2 draw at the QRC ground while Malick got their first point of the season courtesy of a goalless draw away to Trinity at Moka.
Signal Hill continued their 100-percent record in the Tobago Zone courtesy of a 2-1 victory over reigning champs Mason Hall at the Dwight Yorke Stadium’s Training Ground, Bacolet.
Jamaine Walters notched both goals for Signal Hill while Kurtney Joseph got the lone strike for Mason Hall.
At Speyside, Akel Thomas and Kelon Alexander were the goal-getters as Roxborough whipped the hosts 2-0, in the clash of the cellar-placed outfits.
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