St Mary’s could start celebrating its first league success in the North Zone of the BG T&T Secondary Schools Football League in 23 years.
By defeating relegation-threatened Trinity, the Saints cannot be overhauled, making its final match over struggling Woodbrook on Friday of academic interest.
CIC had to wait until the second half though to ensure its first zonal success in the league since 1986 when winning under coach Hayden Martin and with players like the Hislop brothers, Shaka and Kona.
First, centre-back and freekick specialist Christian Biggs blasted a spotkick home from just outside the box in the 50th minute. Then five minutes later Chad Appoo received a through-ball from Tyrell Grant and beat the Trinity keeper one-on-one.
The Saints coach Jason Edwards, in his fourth season at the helm (he was successful in 2007 when St Mary’s won the North Intercol as a Senior Division team), said after the victory, “I feel really good. It was a long hard season and the boys deserved everything they got. They fought hard and got crucial results when they needed to.”
Queen’s Royal College, which started the day a point ahead of bitter rival St Mary’s, blew its chance, completing its 12-match schedule with a goalless draw with host St Anthony’s.
Defending champion, East Mucurapo secured three vital points, edging Fatima 3-2 in the “Mucurapo Derby”.
After going into the half 1-1, Mucurapo went two goals up—from a penalty by Kayjay Ramdoo (57th) and a solo effort by Jamal Williams (70th)—before conceding a late item from Andrew Smith (84th).
St Mary’s is now on 24 points. QRC finished on 23. Mucurapo and St Anthony’s both have 20 and Fatima 19.
Pres takes first title in 23 years
Presentation is now assured of the 2009 title in the South Zone, after claiming a 2-0 win over Shiva Boys in the penultimate match yesterday.
Pres, which has dethroned six time champion Naparima, and ended a 23 year drought, entered this round needing a win to take top honours, and did so easily. Triston
Khan opened the scoring in the 25th minute and Malcom Nedd added the finishing touches with a strike in the 69th to hand his team a well deserved title.
This win, number eight, has moved the leader to 26 points from its 11 matches, and with one match remaining there is no possibility of any team catching up, even if it suffers defeat against Vessigny on Friday.
St Benedict’s, which went into this round on 19 points and in second place, suffered a 1-0 defeat to Princes Town, with Cleon Ayres scoring in the 12th minute. The defeat means that it has now slipped into third, as Naparima edged Siparia 1-0 compliments of a Jared Bennett strike in the 80th minute.
Mason Hall settles issue
As a result of the 2-2 draw with Signal Hill yesterday in the Tobago Zone, Mason Hall left no doubt as to the outcome of the league.
Although facing a disciplinary matter regarding the registration of player, Kyle James, Mason Hall climbed to 17 points. Even if it loses the appeal, second placed Scarborough could not finish ahead of the 2007 champion.
Mason Hall’s coach Sherwin Jordan revealed: “We are now sending a message to Carapichaima. We have dubbed ourselves Hallers Ballers because we do not have a football field and my players play smallgoal in the hall of the school.
“It is a victory we need to celebrate. We had a lot of challenges this season in terms of injuries and so on. It was a holistic approach and each player played their part in following instructions both on and off the field. Because of that type of committment, today have managed to gain victory in the league.”
Caps maul Pres 9-0
Defending Central Zone champion, Carapichaima ended on a high, steamrolling second placed Presentation 9-0 away from home.
Anton Gill netted a beavertrick (9th, 12th, 60th and 89th) to carry his tally of goals for the season to 12—the most by an individual player.
Also sharing in the goalspree were Nathan James (7th, 70th), Isiah Rivers 84th and Christian Ralph 32nd. The other item was an own goal in the 22nd.
“The performance was very good,” said coach Lawrence Rondon. “Everybody contributed. Gill seems to be getting back into it after not scoring in a couple of games. His four goals has raised his confidence.
“Right now, all the players’ minds are on the game and we’re looking forward to meeting Mason Hall.”
Green Machine claims East title
St Augustine finally dethroned defending East Zone champion San Juan, after finishing second the last two years to the Bourg Mulatresse Boys.
The ‘Green Machine’, under the guidance of former national player Michael Grayson, whipped Sangre Grande 5-1 in its second to last match of the league at its home ground.
Theon James in the 12th, Ishmeal Clement 69th, Jevaughn Vance 70th, Bernell Ramirez 77th, and Zavion Navaro 88th were the goal scorers for the winners, while Kyle Thompson netted for Grande.
Coach Grayson said it was a great victory to start off the season. “We want to take all four titles this year, no team has ever done it and we are aiming for that feat.”
Grayson believes that he has the players needed to get the job done, to make their dream a reality.
In the other East Zone matches, Toco defeated Trinity 4-3 and El Dorado scored a slim 1-0 win over San Juan.
Results
North Zone
FATIMA 2 (Anslem Jackson 26th; Andrew Smith 84th) vs EAST MUCURAPO 3 (Samuel Delice 33rd; Kayjey Ramdoo 57th - pen; Jamal Williams 70th)
ST ANTHONY’S 0 vs QRC 0
TRINITY vs ST MARY’S 2 (Christian Biggs 50th; Chad Appoo 55th)
East Zone
ST AUGUSTINE 5 (Theon James 12th, Ishmean Clement 69th, Jevaughn Vance 70th, Bernell Ramirez 77th, Zavion Navaro 88th) vs Sangre Grande 1 (Kyle Thompson)
TOCO 4 (Kesh Charles all four) vs TRINITY 3
EL DORADO 1 (Kevin Noriega 87th) vs SAN JUAN 0
South Zone
PRESENTATION 2 (Triston Khan 25th, Malcom Nedd 69th) vs SHIVA BOYS 0
PRINCES TOWN 1 (Cleon Ayres 12th) vs ST BENEDICT’S 0
NAPARIMA 1 (Jared Bennett 80th) vs SIPARIA 0
Central Zone
PRESENTATION 0 vs CARAPICHAIMA 9 (Anton Gill 9th, 12th, 60th, 89th); Nathan James 7th, 70th; Isiah Rivers 84th; Christian Ralph 32nd; own goal 22nd)
MARABELLA 2 (Patrick Julien 75th; Carlon Howard 80th) vs GASPARILLO 0
Tobago Zone
GOODWOOD 0 vs ROXBOROUGH 1 (Dilon Villafana 45th)
MASON HALL 2 (Makeil Mc Kenzie 20th; Selvon Williams 27th) vs SIGNAL HILL 2 (Darryl Donaldson 2nd; own goal 85th).
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