"Who are we? QRC! Who are we? QRC!"
That refrain must have hurt the ears of Fatima College supporters as their team tried to claw their way back from a 2-1 deficit away to Queen's Royal College at Hayes Street in BGTT Secondary Schools Football League North Zone action yesterday.
The smaller, visiting Fatima contingent struck up their own chorus. It proved insufficient to spur their team to a come-from-behind victory, or even to salvage a draw on an eventful afternoon.
The beating also thrust QRC over Fatima into second place, while the latter replaced them a spot below with their second consecutive loss.
In other games, St Anthony's College pipped Malick Secondary Comprehensive 1-0 at Westmoorings to replace St Mary's College in fourth spot, after the "Saints" drew 3-3 with Trinity at Moka. St Mary's are now fifth.
Only a Fatima victory would see them keep pace with Mucurapo Secondary Comprehensive. They seemed on the way there in the 14th minute when Keiron Doldron stabbed home off QRC goalkeeper Kareem Joseph's parry of a Kern Robinson shot.
Fatima looked technically better and tougher in the first half, but still found themselves shocked in the 31st minute when Rashad Griffith equalised for the "Royalians".
He broke the offside trap neatly, thanks to excellent service from National Under-16 captain Jerrel Britto, who flicked the ball on.
Fatima goalie Derron De Freitas finished second best in the resultant one-on-one play.
The 1-1 scoreline remained at the break and the fight QRC failed to find in the first hour of the match took Fatima by surprise.
They found themselves dealing with sustained attacks and several crosses, which they dealt with amply. But the pressure would eventually tell.
Fatima's main goal source this season, Chad De Freitas, was not on song and was denied twice from close range, while QRC's Britto stepped up his game, but missed the target as well. But he did blast home in the 60th to shock the Fatima defence and delight the home crowd, whose team until then had played second best.
QRC piled on the pressure with shots from distance, while Fatima threatened like a dark cloud, but could not produce the needed result.
There were groans from the old-or rather middle-aged Fatima faithful-as they blasted past and over the metalwork without finding the net, while QRC hung on for dear life.
Fatima fans resorted to singing: "Jesus's love is a-bubbling over", but their lusty praises failed to produce the results they needed.
For Fatima, it was a second disappointing loss in as many match days. For QRC, it turned out to be a good day.
San Juan wins East first round.
By: Kendall Garcia (Guardian).
San Juan sent a clear message that it intends to retain the East Zone title in the BGTT Secondary Schools Football League with a 2-1 win over archrival St Augustine yesterday. The victory was the sixth for San Juan, a perfect run, and came in front of its boisterous Bourg Mulatresse fans.
San Juan made the most of its home advantage to jump out to an early lead when Hayden John opened the home team’s account in the seventh minute.
Akel James doubled San Juan’s score in the 14th, and a rout was imminent.
San Juan was attacking in waves and threatening to over-run St Augustine.
But ‘Gustine was awarded a penalty in the 29th minute for a handled ball. Isaiah Mejias duly converted the kick to pull his team back into the match, 2-1 at the interval.
The ‘Green Machine’ changed gears in the second period and looked menacing.
But the home fans would not let their heroes fall and cheered on San Juan as they fought and scrapped for the ball in midfield and defence.
The teams played to an exciting stalemate in the second half, as San Juan held on for its sixth victory and first round honours with 18 points.
Hillview beat El Dorado 2-1 in an upset to win the “Tunapuna Derby”.
It was the first win for Hillview after five straight losses.
Since El Do’s four consecutive wins had it in second spot going into the match, it was highly favoured to dominate and take away three points.
Daren Prescot’s goal in the 10th minute seemed to signal another win in the making.
But determined and efficient Hillview silenced the Blue Thunder with a Darius Peters goal midway through the first session.
Peters stole the ball from El Do’s captain Christian Sandy in the defence, dribbled the ‘keeper and buried his shot to level the scores.
Later in the session, Peters latched onto a through ball, weaved his way forward and again beat the goal keeper to give Hillview its first lead of the season, 2-1 at half time.
Hillview defended fanatically after the resumption, as ‘keeper Ameer Mohammed pulled off a series of stunning reflex saves to preserve his team’s advantage.
Even after Antonio Khelawan was sent off, El Do could not break through. Hillview held on for the win and sent fans into wild celebration, while El Dorado players wept openly after the final whistle.
Trinity pumelled Toco 4-0 at Trincity, three firsthalf strikes and a lone item in the second period lifted Trinity to its second win of the season.
Yesterday’s results
SAN JUAN 2 (Hayden John, Akel James) v ST AUGUSTINE (Isaiah Mejias pk)1
HILLVIEW 2 (Darius Petres 2) v EL DORADO (Daren Prescott) 1
TRINCITY 4 (Kevin Seebrun 2, Marvin Springer 2) v TOCO 0
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