Naparima College will meet long-time rivals Presentation College San Fernando in the battle for the RBTT Inter Col South Zone crown on Wednesday.
"Pres" had some help from their opponents, Pleasantville Senior Comprehensive, in a hard-fought 3-1 triumph at the same venue in the first match of the double-header.
Without inspirational skipper Shahdon Winchester, who is currently on national duty with the T&T Under-17 team, "Naps" had to work a bit harder to get the result. The other reason the match finished so close was because of the great work by Miles Goodman between the uprights for St Benedict's.
At the opposite end of the pitch, the "La Romaine Lions" lacked the finishing touch that could have sent them ahead in the first half.
Troy Moses had a good chance on 22 minutes, but hesistated and was shut down by Naparima's defence.
Parris hit the side-netting early on and then threw away a gift from an opposing defender, while Goodman denied him from close range as well. Mark Hunte was similarly denied.
Parris found the way in before the break, collectimg from Amale Quashie and smartly snuck it into Goodman's near post.
St Benedict's should have equalised through Moses, who headed wide in the 51st, then hit a long drive that Naps' custodian Nicholas Jugmohan saved.
Parris handed St Benedict's a few reprieves himself and he and Quashie were both thwarted brilliantly by the feet of Goodman.
The referee was called upon to break up a fight late in the match as the whistle neared. Still, there was little to celebrate for the La Romaine team, who spurned two good late chances to get back into the game.
Earlier in the evening, Presentation earned the right to face Naparima, but Pleasantville made them work hard for it.
Each side accounted for two goals, but an own goal by P'ville's Ayinde Fraser counted the other way.
Pleasantville took the lead through Michael Beatrice in the 18th, but surrendered it in the 32nd with Travis Francis's strike.
A 1-1 half-time scoreline turned 2-1 in Pres's favour through Fraser. Stephon Calliste settled the issue for good in the 85th, "toepeeing" the ball home to kill off their opponents.
It is highly unlikely, though, their next encounter for the South Inter Col crown will be any easier.
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