Schools from North Trinidad dominated proceedings on day-two of the 2014 BG TT Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Premier edition yesterday as Arima North whipped Presentation College, San Fernando, 3-1, followed by a nail-biting 2-1 victory for Fatima College over Shiva Boys when action continued at Guaracara Park, Point-a-Pierre yesterday.
In the opening match-up, Arima North showed more intent and were able to string together some nice passing in and around the Southern-based team. Presentation never seemed to settle and were caught napping in defence as the Arima outfit pressed for the opener. And it came 25 minutes in, as a defensive blunder from the Presentation Lions saw striker Afton Molino pounce on a stray ball to slot home the first of his three.
Eight minutes later, another misunderstanding in the Presentation penalty area sent Molino squeezing through once more to send the Arima team 2-0 ahead and again past the shaky hands of “Pres” custodian, Tyrek James. As the opening period progressed, Presentation tried to play on the break but were kept in check. Molino would then complete his hat-trick by bagging his third minutes before half-time to send his squad 3-0 up.
Upon the resumption, ‘Pres’ showed a bit more desire and used the flanks as their delivery into the box. Bradley Lee Foon displayed some neat footwork combined with striker Kyle Moodie but the attacking pair still failed to find the finishing touch. In the 65th minute however, Presentation would get a consolation as Kristoff Burkett played one nicely in for Moodie, who sank his shot past Arima goalkeeper (3-1), Shundell Mayers.
In the feature match, a 10-man Fatima unit held their own to grasp a close 2-1 win over Shiva Boys. The opening period saw end-to-end action as both teams started in attacking mode. The Debe-based team had a golden opportunity in the eighth minute but Kadeem Ashford’s free-kick ricocheted off the upright for the first promising chance. Shiva Boys defender, Marvin Seuradge proved a hard one to pass as he kept the Fatima attackers in his pocket with precise clearances and clean tackles.
In the 18th minute it would change however, as Ashford’s clearance off a corner went the opposite direction and into his own net, giving Fatima the 1-0 advantage. Twelve minutes and one substitution later, Shiva would level the playing field as a the ball bounced out of custodian Nicholson Gordon’s hands and onto the feet of striker Quinn Rodney who made no mistake to capitalise (1-1).
Into the second period of play, Fatima settled and knocked the ball around optimistically. Shiva Boys had an opportunity wasted as forward Yohannes Richardson went one-on-one with the keeper, only to place it calmly into the last man’s hands. In the 81st minute with feet tiring on both ends, Fatima striker Marquise Hoyte latched on to a loose ball in the Shiva Boys area and comfortably slotted it into the net to send the visiting team 2-1 up.
Today’s Results
Naparima College v San Juan North 2-1
Arima North v Presentation San Fernando 3-1
Fatima College v Shiva Boys 2-1
St Anthony’s College v Trinity College East 4-2
Carapichaima East v Chaguanas North 0-0
RELATED NEWS
Arima North halts Pres Sando
T&T Guardian Reports.
Arima North Secondary made the perfect start to the inaugural Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Premier Division, yesterday, when the East Zone champions handed Presentation College of San Fernando, the reigning Big Five champion, a resounding 3-1 defeat.
The first match of a double-header at Guaracara Park, Point-a-Pierre, saw three different players on target for Arima, all of which were scored in the first half.
Arima North, a team which scraped into this year’s Premier Division after a tough campaign last season, wasted no time in its opening fixture.
The school found a lead within the first minute of play through Mitchell Mulick, before Josiah George added a second in the 25th minute. Aston Molino then scored an insurance item soon after the 30-minute mark.
Presentation College, the most successful school from the South Zone in recent years only found a reply in the 62nd minute through Levon Bass, but could not mount a come back.
The second match of the double-header saw Fatima College edge Shiva Boys Hindu College, 2-1.
Arima North joined Naparima College and St Anthony’s College, both of which recorded opening round victories, at the top of the standings after one round. Naparima got the better of San Juan North Secondary, 2-1, while St Anthony’s defeated Trinity College East, 4-2 in Trincity.
After a 2-2 half time score in the Tigers’ meeting with Trinity, the second half saw a heated battle with three players being ejected moments before the end.
Dareem David, who scored both goals for Trinity in the first half was sent off for violent conduct while Jarod Flament and Shakeem Patrick were also red carded for their retaliation on the same Trinity player. Kwesi Allen scored a brace for St Anthony’s, while Simon Joseph and Darius Ollivierra scored one each.
Then, in a keen cross town rivalry, Carapichaima East Secondary and Chaguanas North Secondary played to a goalless draw, at the former’s home ground.
After all 14 Premier Division teams played their matches, St Mary’s College took a lead in the standings on goal difference after recording the highest margin of victory. The Saints eased past reigning InterCol winner St Augustine Secondary 3-0 on Thursday in a surprisingly one-sided encounter. St Benedict’s College also opened in victory with a 2-0 win over East Mucurapo.
Tobago Championship kicks off today
Having opted to sit out of this year’s inaugural Premier Division, the top schools in the Tobago Zone will kick off the Championship season today with a double-header, carded to kick off at Shaw Park from 3 pm.
Bishop’s High and defending Tobago league and InterCol champion Speyside Secondary will play in the earlier fixture, before Scarborough Secondary and Signal Hill close the day’s proceedings with a 5 pm kickoff in the second match.
Tomorrow, Pentecostal L&L and Goodwood Secondary will close the opening round of matches in the lone fixture of the day. The two teams will meet at Signal Hill Ground, from 3.45 pm. Roxborough is on a bye.
Results Yesterday
Arima North Secondary 3 (Mitchelle Mulick 1st, Josiah George 25th, Aston Molino 32nd) v Pres Sando 1 (Levon Bass 62nd)
Fatima 2 v Shiva Boys 1
St Anthony’s College 4 (Kwesi Allen 2, Simon Joseph, Darius Ollivierra) v Trinity College 2 (Dareem David)
Carapichaima East 0 v Chaguanas North 0
Naparima College 2 (Steve Sandy 37th, Akinola Gregory 77th) v San Juan North 1 (Jacey David 14th)
Wednesday
St Mary’s 3 (Chinua Bernard 4th, Aaron Noel 15th, Ethan Shim 58th) vs St Augustine Secondary 0
St Benedict’s 2 (Mariba Des Cartes 31st, Shaquille Williams 60th) v St Augustine 0