Defending Big Five and East Zone champion, St Augustine, claimed a 2-0 win over Arima North in the BG T&T Secondary Schools Football League’s (SSFL) East Zone competition at the St Augustine ground, yesterday.
It was by far a better performance from the “Green Machine” which was held to a 0-0 draw in the opening match against Trinity College East. In addition, “Gustine” avenged it’s only defeat in the league last season, 1-0 to Arima.
Kevin Seabrun broke the deadlock in the 37th, to give his team a 1-0 advantage, which it took into the break. Arima was able to hold off the defending champion until the 75th minute, when Zavion Navarro got into the action, with a strike to double the lead and put the match away for Arima.
Head coach Michael Grayson indicated that it was a much better performance. “This is more like what we expected. We were able to bounce back from the 0-0 draw in the first game and claim a win. It is also sweet revenge for our 1-0 defeat at the hands of Arima last season,” said Grayson.
This was Arima’s first defeat of the season, as it won 1-0 over El Dorado on Wednesday. “El Do” was able to rebound from that loss with a 1-0 win over Toco. The 2009 national Intercol champion got the match winner from Aaron St Louis. In the other East Zone match, Trinity edged out Barataria 1-0, to hand the host its second defeat in as many matches.
Central
Davis registers double for Presentation
National youth cricketer Deron Davis rocked the net twice in the first 15 minutes of the first half, to give Presentation a 2-0 win over Tabaquite in the Central Zone at Presentation’s ground in Chaguanas. Davis got his first of the double with a 11th minute strike, before he got a second, four minutes later to give his side a 2-0 lead, which they were able to preserve until the end of regulation time.
Defending Central champion, Carapichaima, had to settle for a come-from-behind draw against host team Waterloo. The Waterloo boys, which placed last in the league last year, took the lead in the first half compliments of a Neon Ogaro strike. However, the 1-0 advantage disappeared in the second period, as Caps top striker last season, Anton Gill, brought his team level.
North
Saints, Tigers stay perfect
Defending champion, St Mary’s College and bitter rival St Anthony’s College maintained their perfect start to this season with contrasting wins, yesterday. The “Saints”, coming off Wednesday’s 2-1 win over Queen’s Royal College (QRC), trounched promoted Malick Secondary 3-0 at St Mary’s Ground Serpentine Road, St Clair.
Kevin Gomez opened the scoring for the host in the 15th minute but had to wait until ten minutes into the second-half before doubling their lead through Reshard Hyacinth. Justin Edwards then added a third nine minutes from full-time for the “Saints” who improved to maximum six points after two matches and sits at the top of the table ahead of the Westmooring Tigers of St Anthony’s on goal-difference.
Malick is without a point. Less than five minutes away from St Mary’s Ground, the visiting Tigers got a 55th minute item from striker Garvin Samaroo, to take all three points from the Royalians, who like Malick are without a point after two matches.
The margin of victory for the Tigers could have been wider had it not been for some poor finishing by Samaroo, who on another day could have had a hat-trick.
In the zone’s other match, East Mucurapo paced by a double from national Under-17 midfielder, Jomal Williams held off neighbour, Fatima 3-2. Williams opened the scoring in the 39th minute which his team took into the interval and three minutes after the restart he doubled the lead as East Mucurapo looked well on course to rebound from its opening day 1-0 loss to the Tigers.
Four minutes later the match was all but over when former Fatima student, Kae-jay Ramdoo netted a third for East Mucurapo. However, Fatima mounted a late rally and got two goals within the space of four minutes from Trey Hart (77th) and captain Andrew Wilson (81st) to set up an interesting final period. However, East Mucurapo managed to hold on to the narrow lead for a deserved three points. Matches continue on Wednesday.
South
Belasco fires Shiva to South top
A late goal from Kieno Belasco was enough to earn Shiva Boys’ a 1-0 win over Naparima College in their South Zone meeting at the David Williams Recreation Ground, Penal, yesterday.
Belasco capitalised on a defensive mix-up to score in the 83rd minute for the Dexter Francis-coached team to push its points tally to maximum six after two matches and top spot. However, Naparima, coached by Francis’ former ‘Strike Squad” team-mate Leonson Lewis had only itself to blame for not coming away with atleast a share of the points after captain and veteran player, Anthony Parris had a fifth-minute penalty saved by Shiva goalkeeper, Qwesi Weston.
In the two other matches, St Benedict’s College and Princes Town West Secondary picked up their first victories.
National U-17 striker, Shackiel Henry 35th minute goal secured full points for St Benedict’s against last year’s zonal winners, Presentation College of San Fernando at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella.
Host Princes Town West whipped Vessigny Government 4-1 led by a second-half double from Kellon La Fortune. Kiel Ribeiro handed Princes Town the lead as early as the second minute but Shakeem George replied for Vessigny seven minutes later for a 1-1 half-time score.
Ten minutes after the restart La Fortune regained the lead for Princes Town before he made it 3-1 three minutes later while Simeon Granger made it 4-1 in the 75th minute.
Yesterday's Results
North:
St Anthony’s 1 (Garvin Samaroo 55th) vs QRC 0.
St Mary’s 3 (Kevin Gomez 15th, Reshard Hyacinth 55th0, Justin Edwards 81st) vs Malick SEC 0.
East Mucurapo 3 (Jomal Williams 39th, 48th, Kae-Jay Ramdoo 52nd) vs Fatima 2 (Trey Hart 77th, Andrew Wilson 81st).
South:
Shiva Boys’ 1 (Kieno Belasco 83rd) vs Naparima 0.
Princes Town West 4 (Kiel Ribeiro 2nd, Kellon La Fortune 55th, 58th, Simeon Granger 75th) vs Vessigny 1 (Shakeem George 10th).
St Benedict’S 1 (Shackiel Henry 35th) vs Presentation 0.
East:
St Augustine 2 (Kevin Seabrun 37th, Zavion Navarro 75th) vs Arima North 0
Trinity East 1 vs Barataria South
El Dorado East 1 (Aaron St Louis) vs Toco 0
San Juan North on a Bye
Central:
Presentation 2 (Deron Davis 11th, 15th) vs Tabaquite 0
Carapichaima 1 (Anton Gill) vs Waterloo 1 (Neon Ogaro)
Tobago:
Scarborough 0 vs Roxborough 0
Speyside vs Signal Hill, DNP
Mason Hall on a Bye.
'El Do' edge Toco 1-0.
By Kern De Freitas (Express).
El Dorado East Secondary rebounded from their opening loss in the BG T&T Secondary Schools Football League East Zone to edge Toco Secondary 1-0 at El Dorado yesterday.
Aaron St Louis struck in the 57th, following up on a rebound to hand his team full points and leave Toco empty-handed on the return trip to the North-East peninsula.
Defending East Zone champions St Augustine Secondary now lead the zone after beating Arima North Secondary 2-0, while Trinity College East stay on "'Gustine's" heels, also on four points, after edging Barataria South Secondary 1-0.
Playing on their neighbours El Dorado West Secondary's patchy, partly-sodden pitch made it tough for "El Do", as well as their visitors. Parts of the field were sprinkled liberally with sand. And after Toco arrived 25 minutes late due to transport problems, the match was shortened by ten minutes.
It might have been a better game if not for those problems, but there have been difficulties securing proper venues, particularly in the East Zone, with the Larry Gomes Stadium not available.
The "Blue Thunder" hardly looked the outfit that snared the 2009 InterCol title, but they might argue that the season is still young.
The teams, El Dorado in particular, did try to make the best of the troublesome outfield and they could have gone ahead after only three minutes had Joseph Brown not stumbled up front.
Kerron Bethelmy also looked like scoring on a number of occasions, but he and Shaquille Smith were thwarted by Toco goalkeeper Kyle Ferreira. Ferreira was probably the best player on the day and kept the difference between the teams to one goal.
The other person making sure El Dorado did not go in with an advantage was Toco's defender and captain Gerard Pierre, a solid last stopper wearing the No. 5 shirt.
After the break, Bethelmy twice missed chances to put his team ahead and Toco's Andron Cassanova hammered way over from 18m, before St Louis hit net.
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