The "Green Machine" of St Augustine continued their early 2009 BG T&T Secondary Schools Football League momentum yesterday with a comfortable 3-2 home victory against Arima North Secondary at their Warren Street home ground, their second in as many matches.
Although not quite the vintage "Gustine" many have gotten used to, the home team turned back the spirited effort of the "Dial Dynamos" to finish with three points. Arima might have fancied their chances to come away with a point, but needed better finishing.
St Augustine were a little shaky in defence, perhaps slightly more so with Yannick Warren in goal after regular starter Kerron Jones strolled in late for pre-match warm ups and had to watch from the bench.
Arima opened with early aggression, midfielder Kendes Garcia it was with the first shot on goal, which was woefully wide and high. But the hosts did not take long to settle and look more organised than their opponents coming forward.
Striker Aeion Charles's miscued header fell for Ethan Robinson in the 15th, but Robinson's follow up failed to trouble Joseph Craig, Arima's custodian.
By then St Augustine were fully in control, but their finishing, typified by Robinson's tame tap to Craig, was easily held. A rare chance by Arima defender Stefon Pierre was smothered by the Gustine defence and, at the other end, Charles chipped over with only Craig to beat.
Try as St Augustine might, that opening goal eluded them. Both right back Brian Hernandez and skipper Jevaughn Vance failed to hit the net and even when Craig handled the ball at the edge of the area, Jamal Creighton only found the wall.
Coach Michael Grayson opted to bring in Isaiah Mejias in midfield and that substitution immediately paid dividends as his pass was met by Theon James for the opening goal.
James had some problems creating chances from the left flank, but rose above taller Arima defender Steffan Francis to head over the advancing Craig for a 1-0 half-time advantage.
Less than two minutes after the restart, the teams were on even keel when the referee ruled controversially that Arima striker Nicholas Armstrong had been brought down in the area. Skipper Shobare Hamilton calmly converted.
But barely another minute passed before the home team were back in front, also from the penalty spot, Charles hitting the deck and Mejias hitting the net.
Mejias had threatening free kicks thwarted by the Arima defence in the 53rd and 65th minutes, but the few opportunities Arima did get, they spurned.
The crowd, unsatisfied with Vance's input, were busy shouting advice at the midfielder, who late in the game started to find some rhythm. In fact, it was his corner kick that prompted the winning goal in the 79th. The ball took a deflection off a defender and bobbled past a hapless Craig, who missed it altogether.
Arima's persistence was rewarded when, with three minutes left, St Augustine were caught ball watching while substitute Aaron Ballantyne collected a through ball and shot past Warren.
Their consolation goal was not good enough for a share of the points, but both Arima and St Augustine will have seen a lot to work on for the rest of the tough season awaiting them.
Yesterday's SSFL results:
North Zone
Fatima 4 (Andrew Tinto, Rondell Charles, Andrew Smith, Phillip Coker) vs CIC 3
QRC 2 (Akil Morris, Stephen Wiltshire) vs East Mucurapo 0
Trinity 0 vs Woodbrook Secondary 0
South Zone
Shiva Boys' 2 (Andrew Samuel 58th, Alfred John 81st) vs Princes Town 0
St Benedict's 2 (Troy Moses 75th, Sheldon Alexander 90th) vs Presentation College San Fernando 1 (Tristan Khan 57th)
Naparima 3 (Akeems Grant 22nd, Ryan Frederick 61st, Adisa Cumberbatch 73rd) vs Vessigny 0
East Zone
St Augustine 3 (Theon James, Isaiah Mejias pen.) vs Arima North 2 (Shobare Hamilton pen., Aaron Ballantyne)
El Dorado East 2 vs Toco 0
San Juan North vs 3 Trinity East 2 (Marvin Springer, Robert Alexis)
September 05
September 05, 2009 (5:00pm)
Naparima College 3 - 0 Vessigny
Field: Mannie Ramjohn Stadium
Comment: Goal Scorers: Adisa Cumberbatch, Akeems Grant, Rayn Frederick
September 05, 2009 (3:45pm)
Fatima College 4 - 3 St. Mary's College
Field: Fatima College Grounds
Comment: Scorers: Fat - Phillip Coker, Rondell Charles, Andrew Smith, Andrew Tinto. CIC - Renaldo Garcia (2), Akhil Noel
September 05, 2009 (3:45pm)
Queen's Royal College 2 - 0 Mucurapo
Field: QRC Grounds
Comment:
September 05, 2009 (3:45pm)
Trinity College 0 - 0 Woodbrook Secondary
Field: Moka Maraval
Comment:
September 05, 2009 (3:45pm)
St. Augustine 3 - 2 Arima Secondary
Field: St. Augustine Grounds
Comment: Goal scores: St. Aug - Theon James (2), Isiah Mejias. Arima - Shabore Hamilton, Aaron Ballantyne
September 05, 2009 (3:45pm)
El Dorado Secondary 2 - 0 Toco Secondary
Field: Arima Velodrome
Comment:
September 05, 2009 (3:45pm)
San Juan Comp. 3 - 2 Trinity East
Field: San Juan Grounds
Comment: Goal Scorers: San Juan - Dariel Apparicio, Curtley Dodds, Jovon Pardassie. Trinity - Marvin Springer, Robert Alexis
September 05, 2009 (3:45pm)
Shiva Boys 2 - 0 Princes Town
Field: Penal Grounds
Comment: Goal scorers: - Andrew Samuel, Alfred John
September 05, 2009 (3:00pm)
St. Benedict's College 2 - 1 Presentation San Fernando
Field: Mannie Ramjohn Stadium
Comment: Goal scorers: - Marc Anthonie Hunte (Pres), Troy Moses (Pres), Tristan Khan (St. B)
17