Title favourites, St Anthony’s College finally had its 100 percent winning streak from the beginning of last season come to an end after being held to a goalless draw away to Diego Martin North Secondary in the BGTT Secondary Schools’ Football League (SSFL) North Zone match day two, yesterday.
The match was staged at the Diego Martin Secondary Ground, at the same time as the two other North Zone fixtures, which resulted in upsets.
The Westmoorings “Tigers” which has a new-look line-up with only a handful of players remaining from last year’s successful campaign, failed to break down the newly-promoted Diego Martin North’s defence, which lost 1-0 to St Mary’s College, on Saturday.
Meanwhile, in another upset, St Mary’s College, despite dominating most of the encounter, suffered a 1-0 defeat away to rivals Fatima College, at the Fatima College Ground, Mucurapo, while Trinity College let a lead slip away on two occasions as East Mucurapo fought back to draw 2-2.
Fatima defender Keon Matthews scored with less than 15 minutes remaining to sink St Mary’s College. St Mary’s started the much more dominant team in open play and may have created more opportunities in the first half had it not been for a strong performance from Fatima’s defence led by Matthews.
Both Fatima and St Mary’s found the back on the net in the second half, but both efforts were blown off by the referee for offsides.
Subsequently, Fatima took a lead against the run of play when Matthews, who played the role as temporary captain, bounced on a ball which fell to his feet with a clinical low driven effort which made its way into the far post.
St Mary’s never recovered and were left to rue a result which kept it on three points from two matches. Fatima, meanwhile, made amends for its 2-0 opening day defeat to East Mucurapo.
Trinity, which was on a bye on the opening day, failed to capitalise on its two leads against the Mucurapo team, which finished the 2011 North Zone league, runner-up to St Anthony’s College.
Henry fires Pres to South top
National Under-20 striker Shackiel scored two second-half goals to lead Presentation College of San Fernando to a come-from-behind 3-1 triumph over Princes Town in their South Zone at Princes Town.
After a goalless first 45 minutes, Kiel Ribeiro opened the scoring for the hosts only for Henry to tie up the score in the 67th minute. Both teams looked headed for a share of the points before Henry netted in the 89th minute while Jivaughn Dimsoy added a third item on the stroke of full time to seal its second win from as many matches and maximum six points, three ahead defending champions Shiva Boys, Pleasantville and Naparima.
In the two other zonal matches, Russell Alfred netted twice in Pleasantville’s similar 3-1 win over Moruga at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella while Naparima held off St Benedict’s 2-1 at La Romaine for its first points of the season.
Dial Dynamos slam Toco 6-0
Kern Roberts and Jomal Francis scored braces on either side of the half as reigning East Zone champions, Arima North “Dial Dynamos,” slammed host Toco 6-0 to surge to the top of the standings. Roberts found the target in the 25th and 30th minute for a 2-0 cushion at the half before Francis (56th, 65th), national Under-20 midfielder Marcus Gomez (62nd) and Shilo Johnson (80th) completed the scoring to push their team to four points.
In the “Battle of El Dorado,” Shaquille Bertrand registered a second-half hat-trick to lead El Do East past neighbours, El Do West 4-2. Bertrand got his goals in the 52nd, 66th and 78th minutes after teammate Marc Williams had opened the scoring in the sixth minute.
For El Do West, Aaron Auguste had tied up the score in the 33rd minute while Anthony Allsop briefly put his team ahead in the 46th minute before Bertrand took charge and led his team to all three points and a share of the lead with reigning champions Arima North. The other match between St Augustine and Trinity East was not played.
Yesterday’s Results
North Zone
Diego Martin North 0 v St Anthony’s College 0.
Fatima College 1 (Keon Matthews) v St Mary’s College 0.
Trinity College 2 (Dominic Jangoo 48th, Isaiah Farrell 64th) v East Mucurapo 2 (Aaqil Campbell 58th, Akeem Roach 87th).
South
Naparima 2 (Johlawne Beckles 23rd, Adan Noel 40th) vs St Benedict’s 1 (Yafeu Rougier 63rd).
Pleasantville 3 (Russell Alfred 2, Stephon Bain) vs Moruga 1 (Maurice Dick).
Presentation 3 (Shackiel Henry 67th, 89th, Jivaughn Dimsoy 90th) vs Princes Town 1 (Kiel Ribeiro 55th).
East
Arima North 6 (Kern Roberts 25th, 30th, Jomal Francis 56th, 65th, Marcus Gomez 62nd, Shilo Johnson 80th) vs Toco 0.
El Do East 4 (Shaquille Bertrand 52nd, 66th, 78th, Marc Williams 6th) vs El Do West 2 (Aaron Auguste
33rd, Anthony Allsop 46th).
Trinity East vs St Augustine - DNP.
Newcomers 'Diego' snap 'Tigers' win streak.
T&T Express Reports.
St Anthony's College's win streak ended at 20 yesterday when they were held 0-0 by Diego Martin North Secondary at Diego Martin in BG T&T Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) North Zone action.
The "Tigers", who ended last season with a perfect 19 wins from as many matches, got only two matches into 2012 before losing points to the North Zone debutants.
East Mucurapo Secondary, though, failed to take advantage of St Anthony's slip-up, as they had to come from behind twice to avoid defeat to Trinity College at Moka.
In the South Zone, St Benedict's College also had their winning start to the season ruined as they were beaten 2-1 by Naparima College. "Naps" had goals by Johlanne Beckles and Adan Noel in the first half, while in-form St Benedict's attacking midfielder Yaseu Rougier hit back from the penalty spot.
East Zone action saw the Trinity College East clash with St Augustine Secondary postponed, but El Dorado East Secondary and Arima North Secondary had big wins.
Arima hammered Toco Secondary 6-0 at Toco, and El Dorado East welcomed their neighbours and newcomers El Dorado West Secondary with a 4-2 beating.
Today's SSFL Results:
North Zone
Diego Martin North Sec 0 vs St Anthony's College 0
Fatima College 1 (Keron Matthews) vs St Mary's College 0
Trinity College 2 (Dominic Jangoo 48th; Isiah Farrell 70th) vs East Mucurapo Sec 2 (Akiel Campbell 58th; Akeem Roach 87th)
East Zone
Toco Sec 0 vs Arima North Sec 6 (Marcus Gomez, Kern Roberts 2, Jamaal Francois 2, Shilo Johnson)
Trinity College East vs St Augustine Sec (Match Postponed)
El Dorado East Sec 4 (Marc Williams 6, uille Bertrand 52nd, 66th, 78th) vs El Dorado West Sec 2 (Aaron Auguste 33rd, Anthony Allsop 46th)
South Zone
St Benedict's College 1 (Yafeu Rougier) vs Naparima College 2 (Johlanne Beckles; Adan Noel)
Princes Town West Sec 1 vs Presentation College Sando 3 (Shakeil Henry 2, Shivone Dimsoy)
Pleasantville Sec 3 vs Moruga Sec 1