Defending champions St Anthony’s College suffered a late fright from a re-energised QRC, but in the end came out on top 4-3 to remain on top of the North Zone BGTT Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) standings, when action resumed in all five divisions, yesterday.
QRC put on a gallant effort in trying to remove its barren spell at home, while St Anthony’s, which went into the match day as the league’s second strongest team in defence, conceded more goals from the third-from-bottom North Zone team yesterday, than it did in its six previous matches.
The “Tigers” would continue to celebrate upon hearing Fatima College’s setback which saw it lose 1-0 when it hosted East Mucurapo, at Fatima Ground.
Down south, Presentation College again whipped Naparima 3-0 (the same result as the season opener) in the double-header at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella, after starting over an hour late.
The opening match between Shiva Boys and Pleasantville, in which the former took away a 1-0 win, was postponed for over an hour as the referees used the opportunity to protest, and subsequently negotiate match fees with teachers and the principal of the affected schools, following which an agreement was reached.
In the East Zone, three different players were on target as Arima North remained a point ahead San Juan North in the race for the title with a 3-1 whipping of fourth placed St Augustine at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar.
Jamal Francois (13th) and Tevin Figaro (15th) scored inside the first 20 minutes for the Arima “Dial Dynamos” to lead 2-0, but two minutes before the half Akeem Garcia pulled one back for St Augustine.
In the second-half, Neveal Hackshaw restored Arima North’s two goals in the 66th minute after which his team held on for the win to improve to 15 points from seven matches, one ahead of San Juan which got a second-half hat-trick from Brent Sam and another goal from Andel Andrews to shutout defending champions El Dorado East, which remained third on ten points with a match in hand.
Meanwhile, El Dorado West got a double from Kiehl Chase to beat Trinity East and open a five-point advantage from cellar-placed Toco, which was on a bye.
Perennial Central Zone champions Carapichaima East rebounded from its 2-1 loss at Chaguanas North on Saturday with an emphatic 11-1 hammering of Couva West to reclaim top spot in the six-team table after the two other scheduled matches were not played.
Results
North Zone
East Mucurapo 1 (Keeno Allick 44th) v Fatima 0
St Anthony’s 4 (Adrian Millette 2, Kiel Pierre, Shaquille Long) v QRC 3
St Mary’s 4 (Jelani Christopher 12th, Miles Yorke 66th, Rashaad Hyacinth 71st, Brandon de Verteuil 90th) v Diego Martin 1 (Kevin Carter 33rd)
South:
Shiva Boys 1 (Kyle Thomas 44th) v Pleasantville Sec 0
Presentation 3 (Jivaughn Dimsoy 14th, Angel Williams 23rd, Shackiel Henry 82nd) v Naparima 0
St Benedict’s 4 (Anthony Herbert 2, Kyle Celestine, Kadeem Gittens) v Moruga 0
East:
Arima North 3 (Jamal Francois 13th, Tevin Figaro 15th, Neveal Hackshaw 66th) vs St Augustine 1 (Akeem Garcia 43rd)
San Juan North 4 (Brent Sam 53rd, 72nd, 79th, Andel Andrews 55th) vs El Do East 0
El Do West 2 (Kiehl Chase 55th, 75th) vs Trinity East 1 (Tariq John 30th)
Central:
Carapichaima 11 (Shaquille Holder 4th, 52nd, 83rd, Kern Alexis 21st, 85th, Leon Whyle 75th, 90th, Christopher Prim 34th, Joshua Eneau 55th, Treverson Calliste 57th, own goal 70th) vs Couva 1 (Jaffet Williams 31st)
Presentation vs Gasparillo - match called off at half-time with Presentation 1-0 ahead due to no officials on Gasparillo bench
Chaguanas vs Tabaquite - postponed due to no officials
Tobago:
Mason Hall 1 (Akini James 13th) vs Speyside 1 (Brandon Benjamin 75th)