Signal Hill reaches National Intercol final

The sister isle team fresh from a 4-2 humbling of North Zone League and Intercol champions St Anthony’s in Tuesday’s quarterfinal, eased to a 2-1 win over East Zone Intercol champions Arima at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar, yesterday.

The two teams were unsuccessful in finding the back of the net in the first half, but the visitors broke the deadlock in the 46th minute, compliments of a Shaquille Gill goal for a 1-0 lead.

Arima got the equaliser from Kern Roberts in the 66th minute, however, Darryl Trim broke their hearts, sealing the deal in the 78th minute to make it 2-1 in favour of Signal Hill.

Yesterday’s Results

Signal Hill 2 (Shaquille Gill 46th, Darryl Trim 78th) vs Arima North Secondary 1 (Kern Roberts 66th)

Signal Hill reach InterCol final
Edge Arima 2-1 in semis.
By Kern De Freitas (Express).

Signal Hill Secondary marched into the national InterCol for the first time in 15 years yesterday to meet Naparima College. This was after the Tobago Zone champions edged Arima North Secondary 2-1 at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar.

Darryl Trim was the hero who sent Signal Hill through with a 78th minute strike, after his team were put through a tough battle by Arima.

Just after half-time, Shaquille Gill produced the goal of the match to hand Signal Hill the advantage, but Kern Roberts levelled to give Arima hope, before Trim took that hope away.

The teams and supporters had to wait an extra 30 minutes on match officials for kick-off, and Arima started off better with the first few looks at goal. The "Dial Dynamos" had the first shot on target as well, defender Tevin Figaro heading into the arms of Signal Hill goalkeeper, Shaquille King.

Arima showed more attacking intent for most of the first half, but the Tobago champs looked more organised, and preferred the counter-attack.

Despite Arima's liking for the long ball, they controlled the midfield as their opponents tried to soak up the pressure defensively and wait on the counter attack. Twice before the half-time whistle that ploy nearly bore fruit.

The one problem for Signal Hill before the break was keeping possession their own half, which added to the pressure they faced. But their physical strength and speed kept Arima from getting that final shot on goal.

Gill started off the second period, creating a wave of excitement for the handful of Signal Hill fans at the Stadium. His beautiful left-footer from the right outer corner of the penalty area in the 46th was too good for Arima goalkeeper Joseph Craig.

Trim could have put away the match for good three minutes later, but, streaking in from the left, he inexplicably missed the entire goal with just Craig to beat from 12 metres.

But for Arima, that was hardly the end.

They poured forward looking for that equaliser, but Figaro bundled the ball wide from in front of goal, and Keron Joseph headed wide from virtually on the near post. Signal Hill also cleared off their lines to hold onto the advantage.

But they lost that advantage in the 67th minute, but only temporarily. Kern Roberts rewarded Arima for their persistence by powering a hasty Signal Hill clearance back into the danger zone with a first-time right footed shot that went beyond King's right hand into the far corner.

Signal Hill held their nerve though through a rough five-minute patch of sustained Arima pressure, before Trim intervened to atone for his previous mistake in a big way.

The big, strong striker was played through on the left wing and outpaced the two closest defenders for a clear shooting path on the left of the penalty area, he then beat Craig in a one-on-one play, striking into the far corner.

That shot killed any Arima resistance, and although they dominated the final minutes, there was no way back. Signal Hill were back in the big times.