Woodbrook Secondary and Trinity College became the first casualties of the Coca Cola InterCol competition when they were beaten in contrasting fashion last evening by St Anthony's College and Queen's Royal College (QRC) respectively.
At Fatima College's Mucurapo Road ground, St Anthony's slammed home four second half goals to stride past their opponents comfortably, despite a scrappy performance.
But QRC needed an injury time winner from Duane Muckette to settle their encounter with Trinity 3-2, after twice taking the lead inside 90 minutes at St Anthony's Ground in Westmoorings.
Muckette finished with a brace for QRC, while Makesi Lewis scored their opening goal in the first half. Christian Daniel and Nicholas Holder equalised for Trinity at 1-1 and 2-2 in that order.
St Anthony's were without some key players, including midfielder Luke Hernandez and striker Ajani Clarence and midfielder Naseef Karimullah, and had a few other injury problems. Still, they took the lead early in the sixth minute through Dave Long, but impressed little thereafter that in the opening period.
Woodbrook were given a few looks at goal on a muddy outfield, but Jameel Neptune dragged wide at the "Tigers" near post with goalkeeper Jamal Francois looking on. Later, Francois also took the ball off Kirby St John's feet to avoid any alarms.
At the other end, both striker Mikhail "Nani" Walters and winger Shaquille Rogers struggled and could not seem to hit goal or find players when offered several chances. Woodbrook goalie Isiah Cummings also kept his team in the game with some timely saves.
St Anthony's didn't take long to get their insurance goal off the boot of Reshad Allen in the 48th, a well taken first time left footed volley. The introduction of Shaquille Nesbitt sparked more life into the Westmoorings outfit, and inside three minutes, the diminutive but spunky Andel Francois had doubled the advantage to 4-0.
First, Nesbitt played a beautiful diagonal pass for Francois (A) to slot home from the left in the 52nd. Then in 54th, the latter polished off a ricochet which Woodbrook failed to clear.
Woodbrook pulled one back two minutes later as the St Anthony's custodian slipped trying to retrieve a cross, the ball landing for Neptune to tap in Woodbrook's first and only InterCol goal, and just their second for the season.
But the Tigers had the last laugh in the 57th, when Moriba Ballah powered into the far left corner from the right, when striker Cordell Cato, facing traffic, turned back and played a pass of to him.
Poor finishing and Cummings made sure the score remained 5-1 at the final whistle, which signalled an easy win for the Tigers, who now meet QRC's "Royalians" in Wednesday's North semi-final. For Trinity, and for Woodbrook--demoted in their debut year--a tough 2009 season is over.
Scores:
St Anthony's 5 (Dave Long 6th; Reshad Allen 48th; Andel Francois 52nd, 54th; Moriba Ballah 57th) v Woodbrook 1 (Jameel Neptune 56th)
QRC 3 (Makesi Lewis, Dwayne Muckettte 2) v Trinity 2 (Christian Daniel, Nicholas Holder)
InterCol action continues.
T&T Express Reports.
The Coca Cola InterCol competition continues today at Skinner Park, with a South Zone doubleheader.
In the first encounter, South runners-up St Benedict's College take on Siparia Secondary from 3 p.m., before dethroned South League champions Naparima College meet Vessigny Secondary from 5 p.m.
There will also be action in Tobago, with another doubleheader at the Dwight Yorke Stadium in Bacolet.
At 2 p.m., Scarborough Secondary clash with newly-promoted Speyside High, before Roxborough Secondary and Goodwood Secondary do battle two hours later.
The lone BT T&T Girls InterCol fixture on the day is a Point Fortin battle, with Point Fortin East Secondary tackling Point Fortin West Secondary at the Techier Ground in Point Fortin.
Saturday, Malick Secondary, back in North Zone Championship football after a year's absence, will take on North Zone winners St Mary's College. The other Senior Division winners who will play in the InterCol are Tabaquite Secondary (Central) and Pleasantville Secondary (South).
Bon Air High School and Barataria South Secondary face off today at Bon Air to determine who will face "Big Five" champs St Augustine Secondary in the InterCol next Tuesday.
Today's InterCol fixtures:
Coca Cola (Boys) InterCol
Tobago Zone
Scarborough Secondary vs Speyside High School, 2 p.m., Dwight Yorke Stadium
Roxborough Secondary vs Goodwood Secondary, 4 p.m., Dwight Yorke Stadium
South Zone
St Benedict's College vs Siparia Secondary, 3 p.m., Skinner Park
Naparima College vs Vessigny Secondary, 5 p.m., Skinner Park
BG T&T Girls InterCol
South Zone
Point Fortin East Sec vs Point Fortin West Sec, 3 p.m. Techier Ground, Pt Fortin
17