St Augustine retained its East Zone title in the BG T&T Secondary Schools Football League after a 0-0 draw away to San Juan North at San Juan’s Bourg Mulatresse Ground, yesterday. Going into the match, St Augustine dubbed the “Green Machine” led the the seven-team table with 11 points from five matches and needed only to avoid defeat against third placed San Juan (nine points) to retain its zonal supremacy. The “Green Machine” was also without their most experienced player in Dinell Lopez who is with national Under-20 team in Venezuela competing in an invitational tournament. But San Juan, which needed to win at all costs, failed to deliver in front of a crowd of close to 2,000 spectators.
But with the goal less than six yards away the San Juan pair combined to screw up the chance which was eventually cleared. In the dying stags, San Juan substitute Anthony Downes also had a chance to get his team the vital goal, but he fired wide of the target from close range to the dismay of his team-mates and supporters alike. With the win, St Augustine earn a spot in the national Big-Five semifinal against South Zone champions, Naparima College on Monday at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella from 4pm.
Yesterday’s BG T&T SSFL Zonal results:
North:
St Mary’s, 2 (Anthony Palmer 60th, Brian De Verteuil 70th) vs East Mucurapo 1 (Aaquil Campbell 75th).
St Anthony’s 7 (Keane Mc Ivor 3, Rayshad Allen 2, Gavin Samaroo, Andel Francois) vs Fatima 0
QRC 4 (Tariq Roachford 56th, Nathaniel Logie 65th, 80th, Akil Morris 75th) vs Trinity 0
East:
Arima North 1 (Kern Roberts 89th) vs Trinity East 0
Toco 1 (Andron Casanova (pen) 31st) vs Barataria South 0
San Juan North 0 vs St Augustine 0
South:
Pleasantville 1 (Ronell Paul) vs Vessigny 0
St Benedict’s 3 (Johlawnie Beckles, Shackiel Henry, Yaseu Rougier) vs P/Town West 0
Presentation 2 (Amari Thomas, Glen Sutton) vs Shiva Boys’ 2 (Judah Peters 2)
National Big-Five playoffs:
Quarterfinal:
Friday October 22:
Signal Hill vs Carapichaima, Dwight Yorke Stadium, Bacolet.
Semifinal:
Monday Oct 25:
Naparima vs St Augustine, Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella
Tuesday Oct 26:
St Anthony’s vs Signal Hill/Carapichaima winner, Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo.
Final:
Friday Oct 29: To be advised.