TAKING a line through Presentation, it will be no walk-over for triple-crowned champions Naparima, as well as St Benedict's today when fourth round matches in the first round of the South Zone of the BWIA Secondary Schools Football League are played from 4 pm.
Naparima, the only team in the southland to hold a perfect record, will be away to Pleasantville while St Benedict's, who track the leaders, will entertain newcomers Vessigny. Pleasantville, after losing 2-0 to Mayaro, has improved to draw with Vessigny and have beaten Princes Town (1-0).
Vessigny, on the other hand, since drawing 0-0 with Presentation and 1-1 with Pleasantville, whipped cellar-placed Moruga 5-1 on Wednesday, which indicates it is rounding into form. To date, Naparima has been made to fight to the bitter end in winning their three matches - 1-0 over Princes Town, 2-1 over Mayaro and 2-1 over Presentation.
It took a goal in injury time by Brenton de Leon for Naps to edge Princes Town, a second-half penalty by Fabian Forbes for them to beat Mayaro and a double from Atiba Mc Knight for them to hold on to beat Presentation last Wednesday.
Against Presentation, Mc Knight netted his first goal after 30 minutes and converted a penalty with 15 minutes left in the match. After the second goal, Presentation came to life and pressed the champions for the remainder of the game. It was, however, successful in scoring only once through Michael Rogers.
Naps will be at a disadvantage today against Pleasantville as it will be without the services of coach Jan Steadman, star striker Mc Knight and Lyndon Pompey, the trio receiving red cards against Presentation on Wednesday. St Benedict's has continued to score heavily, whipping Moruga 4-1, drew 3-3 with Presentation and has mauled Mayaro 8-4 .
In the first-half against Mayaro, St Benedict's struggled upfront in the absence of their prolific goalscorer Kkosi Blackman, who had to miss the game as a result of receiving a yellow card in each of their first two encounters.After going into half-time trailing 2-3, they came into their own in the second session, banging in six goals.
With Blackman back in the line-up today, the La Romain boys are expected to bring out the best in a Vessigny side that has shown that they would not be an easy "kettle of fish."
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