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The BG T&T/First Citizens Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Premier Division Big Four competition got off to a predictable start yesterday, with the inaugural Premier Division champions Naparima College beating San Juan North Secondary 2-0 in Bourg Mulatresse and runners-up St Anthony’s College rolling past Tobago champions Speyside High 3-0 at St Mary’s Ground.

The Westmoorings Tigers got their goals from Kwesi Allen, Shem Clouzel and Andrew Rullow, while Naps had strikes from Shane Sandy and Akinola Gregory to thank for their hard-fought win.

At San Juan’s fortress, the hosts held their own for most of the encounter and created more opportunities to score in the first half before Naparima found their rhythm late in the first period.

The visitors pressured the hosts late in the first half and took that momentum into the second period eventually getting the breakthrough in the 49th minute from a counter-attacking play which caught the San Juan defence off guard.

San Juan were awarded a free kick in a dangerous position just outside the penalty area but Naps dealt with it, albeit with a bit of luck and started to string together some passes before the ball got to Shane Sandy who battled past the last two defenders before blasting his shot into the back of the net.

San Juan continued to use their stronger physique to muscle the ball up the field and could have gotten an equaliser when Josiah Tremingham was given room to shoot, but his shot from outside the penalty area bounced underneath the crossbar and was eventually cleared out of danger.

The hosts still had other opportunities to come back into the contest but lacked the clinical finishing touch.

Naps scored from another good counterattack, this time Gregory found the back of the net in the 82nd minute to help the Southerners tame their hosts.

San Juan looked the better team in the opening exchanges with one fan even taunting the south team’s supporters saying: “All yuh in the Lion’s den.”

By the end of the match though, the “lion’s” were tamed but not before thoroughly testing the champions.

The second round of matches in the Big Four takes place on Wednesday with San Juan coming up against St Anthony’s and Speyside tackling Naparima.

Yesterday’s Premier Division Big Four Results:

San Juan 0 vs Naparima College 2 (Shane Sandy 49th, Akinola Gregory 85nd), At CIC Ground:

St Anthony’s College 3 (Kwesi Allen, Shem Clouzel, Andrew Rullow) vs Speyside High 0