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Ethan Shim, right, tries to muscle his way past Jared Flament of St AnthonyÂ’s College during a Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Premier Division clash yesterday. Shim scored in the first half as St MaryÂ’s won the contest 1-0, on home turf, to help Naparima College move to the top of the standings, while moving St AnthonyÂ’s into second. Photo: Anthony Harris
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Naparima College made a remarkable leap to the top of the BGTT First Citizens Secondary Schools’ Football League (SSFL) Standings, yesterday, after securing a 2-0 win over Fatima College, while previous leader St Anthony’s College lost for the third consecutive time.

At Lewis St, San Fernando, “Naps” stand-outs Jabari Mitchell and Nicholas Dillon scored on either side of the half, to see their school to the top of the 14-team standings for the first time this season, while up North, St Mary’s College added to the “Tigers’” demise, as the “Saints” secured a 1-0 win at Serpentine Road. Incredibly, St Anthonys’ loss was its third in six days. That, following a run of six wins. Ethan Shim scored the lone goal for St Mary’s roughly five minutes from the end of the first half.

For the new league leaders, Mitchell, one of the most influential players for the team scored his fourth goal in three matches to give Naparima the lead in the 27th minute. The same period of time then elapsed in the second half, before Naps found breathing room with a second goal. Dillon, who came on as a substitute in the 58th minute, scored the second goal of the match and his fourth of the season in the 72nd minute. His goal was assisted by none other than Mitchell.

The change in fortunes, particularly between St Anthony’s and Naparima, has ensured a keen battle to the finish with only four matches remaining in the regular league season.

In other results, Shiva Boys Hindu College continued its incline of form with a 3-1 win over East Mucurapo with Quinn Rodney again on target with a double. Another national player, winger Levi Garcia also scored for the South Zone team.

Presentation College, the reigning Big-Five champion continued its struggles with a 4-1 loss to San juan North. The “Pres Lions” remained second from bottom, while San Juan North kept up the pressure on the league leaders. “Bourg” currently occupies second place, joint with St Anthony’s, Trinity East (2-1 winner over Arima North) and St Benedict’s (2-0 winner over Carapichaima East).

Yesterday’s Results:

Premier Division

St Mary’s College 1 (Ethan Shim 40th) v St Anthony’s 0

Naparima College 2 (Jabari Mitchell 27th, Nicholas Dillon 72nd) v Fatima College 0

St Benedict’s 2 (Anthony Herbert, Judah St Louis) v Carapichaima East 0

San Juan North 4 (Josiah Trimmingham, Brent Sam 3) v Presentation San F’do 1

St Augustine 1 (Brandon Samuel) v Chaguanas North 1 (Mallik Campbell)

Shiva Boys 3 (Quinn Rodney 15th, 61st, Levi Garcia 70th) v East Mucurapo 1 (Tekay Hoyce 3rd)

Trinity College 2 v Arima North 1

RELATED NEWS

Naps on top as Tigers falter in SSFL Premier Division
T&T Express Reports.


Naparima College leapfrogged St Anthony’s College yesterday to replace the Westmoorings side atop the BG T&T Secondary Schools Football League Premier Division after nine rounds of football.

“Naps”, who beat Fatima College 2-0 at Lewis Street, owe St Mary’s College a thank you note, though, as the “Saints” took full advantage of home advantage and a sloppy “Tigers” team to earn full points at Serpentine Road, St Clair.

The Tigers now sit third on goal difference after San Juan North, another team prowling behind the previous leaders, trounced Presentation College San Fernando 4-1 to slip into second on goal difference.

Trinity College also joined the Tigers on 18 points with a 2-1 win away to Arima North Secondary, while St Augustine’s 1-1 home draw against Chaguanas Secondary saw them edge close to a tight bunch atop the standings, but not close enough to enter the top three.

The Tigers would have needed the win as much as mid-table side St Mary’s particularly as they aimed to arrest the slide that saw them follow a perfect six wins with three straight defeats after yesterday.

But it was their own ineffectiveness in front of goal that would haunt them more than their disjointed midfield, or sometimes shaky defence. The Tigers heaped the pressure on the Saints in the second half after conceding just before the break, but chance after change went a-begging, and the former returned to Diego Martin with no straight points and their confidence battered.

An even first half finished a good one for the home team after forward Ethan Shim took advantage of some lacklustre marking in the 43rd. Hardly bothered as he skirted the touchline, Shim cut in towards the penalty area and, uncontested as he continued along the angle, found enough space to beat St Anthony’s goalkeeper Oba Augustine.

St Mary’s were more organised and kept to their game plan in the second half, looking to possess the ball and build going forward. Fortunately for them, although they were without the ball for long period, the frustrated Tigers broke down into individual runs and ineffectual flank play that posed little threat.

The final 15 minutes was full of drama, with a couple of yellow cards issued, but more importantly, with St Anthony’s surging forward looking for the vital equaliser. One little fan, perhaps too young to wear the school’s uniform, pleaded with their attacking players: “please, please score”.

Those please went unheard. National Under-20 midfield Matthew Woo Ling was not effective in midfield or set plays, although he put in a beauty of a corner that Jules Lee could only bundle wide. It typified their match that Woo Ling put wide the final attack of the match, a corner kick.

There were six Tigers chances in the last ten minutes plus stoppage time, at least three within 12 metres. The strikers either failed to shoot or never bothered the target. St Mary’s had a run late on from captain Marcus Mottley, whose rising shot was only just over.

In the end it may be a confidence problem after back-to-back losses, but it is something veteran coach Nigel Grosvenor needs to fix quite quickly if St Anthony’s are to put their season back on track and challenge for the League title.

(Teams)

St Mary’s College: 16.Joshua Da Silva; 2.Marcus Mottley (capt), 5.Rickel Dixon, 4.Jerome Dempster-Babb, 12.Siddiq Manzano; 13.Xavier Bruce, 19.Jeam Marc De Souza (80.Howard Sabga 83rd); 8.Ethan Shim, 15.Aaron Skeene, 10.Aaron Noel (18.Bryant Van Low 90th); 9.Chinua Bernard.

Unused substitutes: 25.Kristopher Donaldson (GK), 17.Antonio De Matas, 20.Tyler Kirton, 22.Joshua Joseph, 23.Justin Brooks.

Coach: Jason Edwards.

St Anthony’s College: 22.Oba Augustin; 15.Nicholas Moyou, 4.Isaiah McIntyre, 23.Mawasi Charles; 2.Jared Flament, 12.Matthaeus Granger (9.Darius Olliviera 49th), 14.Matthew Woo Ling, 18.Simon Joseph; 25.Shakeem Patrick; 19.Andrew Rullow, 10.Kwesi Austin.

Unused substitutes: 1.Carlton Alfonso (GK), 5.Keston Herrera, 6.Leon Whyle, 8.Jules Lee, 17.Raheem Borde, 21.Brent Joel.

Coach: Nigel Grosvenor.