Signal Hill Secondary got their expected victory over Pentecostal Light and Life yesterday at Signal Hill’s school compound but were made to labour more than they would hope for three points in the Tobago Zone of the BG T&T/First Citizens Secondary Schools Football League.
In the Premier Division in Trinidad, leaders Naparima College banged in eight goals without reply-Jabari Mitchell getting a hat-trick—as they beat Chaguanas North Secondary, while San Juan North Secondary and former leaders St Anthony’s College enjoyed 2-0 and 6-1 wins respectively.
At Signal Hill, a 1-0 result would have been good for the ten-time national champs but not for former national senior coach Bertille St Clair, who assumed his overseeing role at Signal Hill from a distance, as is his custom.
It was the same type of football regular onlookers would expect from Tobago teams in sloppy conditions brought on by the weekend’s tropical wave: direct, rugged, played in condensed space by speedy players.
But the play was not always cohesive, and sometimes the beauty in it was lost by a bunched midfield or ugly, desperate defending.
Luckily, it wasn’t dull despite the persistent drizzle, as Light and Life kept trying to press forward and should have had the late equaliser through substitute Rodell Douglas, while Signal Hill should have trotted home by a greater margin but for lukewarm finishing.
Light and Life chased the game for the entire first half. The first decent touch they had was a clearance that went for a corner before the referee’s watch had struck a minute. The second was goalkeeper Jo-Randi Reid picking the ball out of his own net, due largely to his own lack of awareness and late reaction, as winger Axcel George fired his corner, perhaps fortuitously, along the crossbar, and it dipped late.
Reid seemed to spot the danger late and his flailing attempt at a punch hit air. He turned to see the ball nestling into his net as Signal Hill celebrated.
To their credit, Light and Life were not intimidated but knew they were outmatched. Still, within the first 15 minutes the visitors had two chances, Shakeem Irine with a fierce drive from 30 metres that was narrowly wide, and a one on one where Brian Williams was second best to Ajerie Vermin in Signal Hill goal.
On the half hour Jabari Francis also tried his luck from 25 metres, while Kareem Phillips also forced Fermin to tip over with a beauty of a free kick from similar range.
Truth be told, though, Signal Hill should have had a bigger lead by the break. Antonio Pantin was a constant thorn with his speed and crosses from the right, and also had his shot cleared off the line from Jokiah Leacock after a horrible error from Reid.
The hosts kept most of the possession and pressure, and also had two close range chances from go a-begging.
Keiroy Murray, Ackel Carrington and Nkosi Chance all made a meal of close range shots on the break, two of which were saved by Reid. At the other end, Douglas hit the post off a corner and Francis punted wide in the final minutes, only to scare a Signal Hill, but not enough.
Yesterday’s SSFL Results:
Premier Division:
St Anthony’s 6 (Andrew Rullow, Matthew Woo Ling 2, Kwesi Allen 2, Raheem Borde) v Fatima 1
San Juan 2 v East Mucurapo 0
Naparima 8 (Nicholas Dillon 3, Jabari Mitchell, Martieon Watson, Iasaih Hudson, Jeremiah Kezar, Aalon Minors) v Chaguanas North 0
Shiva Boys 2 (Jerry Ramdeo, Levi Garcia [P]) v St Benedict’s 1 (Meriba Des Cartes)
Presentation San Fernando 1 (Kyle Moodie) v St Mary’s 0
St Augustine 1 v Trinity East 1
Carapichaima East 2 v Arima North 1
Tobago Zone:
Signal Hill 1 v Penecostal L&L 0
Roxborough 0 v Speyside 15