Dwight Ceballo netted a second-half double as St Anthony's College soared to the top of the standings in the race for the BG T&T Secondary Schools Football League North Zone title after a 4-2 whipping of visitors Malick Secondary, yesterday.
Going into the third round of zonal matches, the Tigers-coached by former national youth team coach Nigel Grovesnor were second on the seven-team table on goal difference to bitter-rivals St Mary’s College, with both teams on six points.
However, while the Saints were held to a scoreless draw away to Trinity College at Moka, Maraval, the ‘Tigers’ trampled the struggling Malick at Westmoorings led by a second-half double from Ceballo, a former national Under-17 player.
Playing their first match of the season on their home ground at Morne Coco Road, the “Westmoorings Tigers” took a 1-0 lead via Thulani George, however, Malick then stunned the host with a pair of goals from striker Andell Andrews, his second and third of the season for a 2-1 advantage at the interval.
On the resumption, the host stepped up their play and drew level thanks to midfielder Kean Mc Ivor before Ceballo’s double sealed victory and first place in the North with maximum nine points after three matches, two more than St Mary’s which they face on Saturday at Serpentine Road.
In the zone’s other match, hosts Queen’s Royal College (QRC) secured a deserved 2-1 win over Fatima in a clash of winless teams at St Clair. Fatima suffered its second narrow defeat in as many matches, after losing out 3-2 to neighbours East Mucurapo on Saturday.
Green Machine grinds Barataria
A double each from Kevin Seabrun, Davion Navarro and Jamal Creighton helped defending “Big Five” and East Zone champion St Augustine cruise to an easy 8-0 win over Barataria South in the East Zone yesterday.
The “Green Machine” made full use of home advantage racing to a 5-0 lead at the half way mark. The first of Seabrum’s goals came some 15 minutes after Odou Hazel’s opening item for the zone leader in the eighth minute.
An already down Barataria team sunk even further with an own goal in the 29th minute, to trail 3-0. The onslaught of goals eased somewhat heading in the final five minutes of the first half when Navarro brought the “Gustine” supporters to their feet, netting in the 41st and returning on the 44th minute, for his second.
It took Seabrum (48th) only three minutes into the second half, to give St Augustine another goal before Creighton concrete the victory with his pair of goals in the 62nd and 74th.
San Juan also had success against visitor Toco Secondary, stopping them 3-1 while El Dorado got the better of host Trinity, 2-1.
Gasparillo Secondary opened its season with a surprise 3-0 victory over former Central Zone champion Presentation College Chaguanas. Carapichaima breezed past Tabaquite in the other match in Central, beating them 5-2. Mason Hall got just the start it wanted in this shortened season, whipping host Roxborough Secondary, 7-0 in the Tobago Zone.
Ahkeem Legall netted a double for the winner while Omar Charles, Shannon Sandy, Brandon Joseph, Michael McKenzie, Ochae Cyrus scored a goal each. Over in Speyside, both Shaquille Scott and Christopher Morgan brace of goals for Scarborough in its 4-1 triumph against Speyside Secondary.
In the South Zone, Naparima defeated St Benedict’s, 2-0 in the second match of the double-header at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella. Naps got goals from Anthony Parris (46th) and Adgan Noel (82nd). Shaquille Henry netted the sole goal for the losing team in the 89th minute.
The opening match saw Pleasantville score a 1-0 win over Princes Town West. Producing the winner was Jerome Diaz. The other match in the Zone played at the David William recreation ground in Penal, ended in a goalless draw.
Results
North:
St Anthony’s 4 (Dwight Ceballo 2, Thulani George, Keane Mc Ivor) v Malick 2 (Andell Andrews 2).
QRC 2 (Akil Morris 45th, Qualanson Archibald 55th) vs Fatima 1 (Jayson Murray 16th).
Trinity 0 vs St Mary’s 0.
East:
St Augustine 8 (Odou Hazel 8th, Kevin Seabrun 23rd, 48th, own goal 29th, Davion Navarro 41st, 44th, Jamal Creighton 62nd, 74th) vs Barataria South 0.
Trinity East 1 vs El Dorado East 2 (Joseph Brown 25th, Aaron St Louis 60th).
San Juan North 3 (Kurdell Braithwaite 9th, Andrew Smith 59th, Jahfire Ellis 78th) vs Toco 1 (Israel Modeste 64th).
South:
Shiva Boys 0 vs Vessigny 0.
Pleasantville 1 (Jerome Diaz) vs P/Town West 0.
St Benedict’s 1 (Shaquille Henry 89th) vs Naparima 2 (Anthony Parris 46th, Adgan Noel 82nd).
Central:
Carapichaima 5 vs Tabaquite 2.
Presentation 0 vs Gasparillo 3.
Tobago:
Mason Hall 7 (Ahkeem Legall 2, Omar Charles, Shannon Sandy, Brandon Joseph, Michael McKenzie, Ochae Cyrus) vs Roxborough 0.
Speyside 1 (Jessie Martineau) vs Scarborough 4 (Shaquille Scott 2, Christopher Morgan 2).
P'Ville edge P-Town to narrow South lead.
By Kern De Freitas (T&T Express).
Pleasantville Secondary took a firmer grip on second spot in the BG T&T Secondary Schools Football League's (SSFL) South Zone yesterday with a 1-0 victory over Princes Town West Secondary at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella.
A 36th minute goal from the boot of Jerome Diaz was all it took to give Pleasantville full points. But aside from testing distance shooting from Marcus Ramkhalawan, the "Green Hornets" of Princes Town could not muster any efforts worthy of the second best team in the South Zone.
Shiva Boys now lead by just one point after they were held to a 0-0 draw by Vessigny Secondary at Skinner Park.
There were contrasting halves for both Pleasantville and Princes Town. The first period looked more like a ping pong warm-up than a top flight SSFL football match, the ball flying from defenders at one end to opposing stoppers, with a single forward trying to take advantage of any errors.
The second period was much improved, but bore no goals.
The first half goalkeeping was even less inspiring, with Tevin Nicholas dropping a handful of air balls and even with his lanky frame, he twice mistimed attempted punches overbar, but managed to complete the saves.
His opposite number, P Town's Kerry Steeling, also had a couple of dropped catches.
Pleasantville looked technically superior though, and you could almost smell the goal that would eventually come before the break.
Diaz had been knocking on the door for some time, and when the defence finally let him in, he strode into the box, let Steeling commit himself, then rounded the P.Town custodian and tapped home.
Princes Town's best chance of the half came through Kiel Rebeiro, but his diving header from the left was well collected by Nicholas, diving full stretch to his left.
But Pleasantville ruled the second half. And despite Ramkhalawan's attempts, and a few threatening efforts from Akim Bruce from beyond 20 minutes, Princes Town were unable to find an equaliser.
Yesterday's SSFL Results:
North Zone
St Anthony's 4 (Thulani George, Kiel McIvor, Dwight Ceballo) vs Malick 2 (Andell Andrews 2)
QRC 2 vs Fatima 1
Trinity 0 vs St Mary's 0
East Zone
St Augustine 8 vs Barataria South 0
Trinity East 1 (Tahj Selvon 72nd) vs El Dorado East 2 (Joseph Brown 15th, Aaron St Louis 75th)
San Juan North 3 vs Toco 1 (Israel Modeste)
South Zone
Pleasantville 1 (Jerome Diaz 36th) vs Princes Town West 0
Shiva Boys 0 vs Vessigny 0
St Benedict's 1 vs Naparima 2
Central Zone
Carapichaima East 5 (Anton Gill 2, Shaquille Holder, Denzil Gill, Moriba Vance) vs Tabaquite 2 (Shawn Outar 2)
Presentation Chag 0 vs Gasparillo 3
Tobago Zone
Roxborough 0 vs Mason Hall 7 (Omar Charles, Shannon Sandy, Brandon Joseph, Hakeem Legall 2, Michael McKenzie, Ochae Cyrus)
Speyside 1 (Jeffie Martino) vs Scarborough 4 (Shaquille Scott 2, Christopher Morgan 2)
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