Desperation and frustration seemed to be the order of the day for East Mucurapo Secondary fans, players and officials alike yesterday, as they chased the match for 80 minutes but lost 3-1 to hosts Arima North Secondary in Premier Division action in the BG T&T Secondary Schools Football League.
East Mucurapo would feel they were a bit unlucky to not share the points, but had ample time to equalise before handing their opponents the clincher five minutes into stoppage time.
The Arimians made the best of their home advantage to score early through Afton Molino. Just after the halftime break they solidified their lead with a goal by Anfernee Johnson.
Kathon St Hillaire made the match interesting in the later stages of the encounter, but it was spoiled by numerous misses and then a late penalty at the other end by Jesse Chuniesingh.
Mucurapo never had time to settle. They were behind after ten minutes, after two defenders challenging a loose ball failed to get anything on it. The ball fell nicely for Molino to slot home from close range to the delight of a small crowd of supporters.
The visitors spent much of their time trying to find their feet in the first half, and were perhaps fortunate to maintain the 1-0 scoreline at the break.
They were offered chances of their own but failed to put away two close range shots, one which Travell Edwards missed as a well weighted ball whizzed by the near post, and the other shot drilled by Jair Edwards straight to Arima goalkeeper Shunell Mayers.
Arima looked the more composed and organised on the ball, and after the break found some breathing room from the head, or rather, the sprouting hair of Johnson in the 49th, as he leapt to meet a left side corner at the far post and directed it back across Terral Cambridge in the East Mucurapo goal.
Mucurapo looked likely to concede a third, but weathered the storm before their passing finally began to find rhythm. Much of that was due to the right back Tekay Hoyce, whose first name rang out at the school ground as much for his wastefulness as for his energy and enterprise coming forward. He was hardly ever a bystander.
It was St Hillaire, though, that turned five minutes of consistent pressure into a goal in the 71st, collecting a long ball in space on the right, where he cut in and beat Mayers on the angle from close range.
In the 86th, a defender spared Arima’s blushes with a last ditch clearance with Mayers beaten, and East Mucurapo also had a shout for a penalty denied when St Hillaire went down in the area.
Deep into stoppage time the result was confirmed from the spot by Chuniesingh after Joshua Alexander’s challenge on Adofa Peripignac.
The loss leaves Mucurapo without a point in their first two matches and Arima with their second win. Action continues in the League next Wednesday.
Yesterday’s Premier Division Results
Arima North 3 (Afton Molino 10, Anfernee Johnson 49, Jesse Chuniesingh 90-Pen) v East Mucurapo 1 (Kathon St Hillaire 71)
St Benedict’s v St Anthony’s - (postponed - unsuitable playing conditions)
Carapichaima East 1 v Trinity East 1
Shiva Boys 1 (Navin Seuraj 89) v Chaguanas North 0
St Augustine 5 (Anthony Samuel 24, Keishawn Marcellin 28, Jesse Joseph 45, 66, 89) v Presentation San F’do 2 (Levon Bass 13, 78)
San Juan North 5 (Kyle Max [2], Brian Alexander, Shayan Eustace, O’Neal Jarvis) v Fatima 1
Naparima 0 v St Mary’s 1
Premier Division Standings
P W D L F A Pts
Arima North Secondary 2 2 0 0 6 2 6
St. Mary's College 2 2 0 0 4 0 6
San Juan North Secondary 2 1 0 1 6 3 3
St. Anthony's College 1 1 0 0 4 2 3
St. Augustine Secondary 2 1 0 1 5 5 3
Shiva Boys Hindu College 2 1 0 1 2 2 3
Naparima College 2 1 0 1 2 2 3
St. Benedict's College 1 1 0 0 2 0 3
Fatima College 2 1 0 1 3 6 3
Carapichaima East Secondary 2 0 2 0 1 1 2
Chaguanas North Secondary 2 0 1 1 0 1 1
Trinity College East 2 0 1 1 3 5 1
East Mucurapo Secondary 2 0 0 2 1 5 0
Presentation College, San Fernando 2 0 0 2 3 8 0
Championship Division (Tobago)
P W D L F A Pts
Speyside Secondary 1 1 0 0 3 0 3
Signal Hill 1 1 0 0 3 1 3
Scarborough Secondary 1 0 0 1 1 3 0
Bishop’s High 1 0 0 1 0 3 0
Roxborough 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Goodwood 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Pentecostal L&L 0 0 0 0 0 0 0