Jerome Samuel scored three minutes into added on time as Shiva Boys Hindu College snatched a late 2-1 win over host, and two-time defending champions, Naparima College, to take the outright lead in the 15-team Shell/First Citizens Secondary Schools Football League Premier Division, yesterday.
Going into the match at Lewis Street, San Fernando, the trio of St Anthony’s College, Naparima College and Shiva Boys Hindu College were all locked at the top on 16 points each. And as early as the second minute, Naparima made its intentions known when Judah St Louis fired in the first goal of the match.
However, Junior Assoon replied for Shiva Boys in the 29th minute and with the match seemed headed for a draw, Samuel conjured up the late winner for Shiva Boys to go top with 19 points from eight matches, three clear of St Anthony’s College, Naparima College and Presentation College of San Fernando.
This after the “Westmoorings Tigers,” who started the day on top of the table by virtue of a superior goal-difference of plus-11, followed by Naparima (plus-eight) and Shiva Boys (plus-seven) suffered a first defeat of the season also, going down 4-3 at home to Signal Hill at Westmoorings.
Omarley James netted a double in the sixth and 23rd minute for Signal Hill to lead 2-0 at the interval and five minutes after the resumption, Akil Frank added a third item against the stunned Tigers.
But on the hour mark, N’Kosi Salandy pulled a goal back for the host which was followed by quick strikes from national Under-17 midfielder, Che Benny (83rd) and Krishorn Alexander (86th) to even the match at 3-3.
However, within a minute, the Tigers’ joy turned to sorrow as Jelanie James then banged in a fourth item for Signal Hill to grab all three points.
Former leaders, Presentation College of San Fernando was held goalless by the “Green Machine” of St Augustine to join Naparima and St Anthony’s on 16 points, four clear of a resurgent St Mary’s College which edged East Mucurapo 2-1 with second-half items from Daniel Conocchiari (55th) and Tyrese Spicer (57th) after Zion Mc Leod had put East Mucurapo ahead in the 38th.
In other matches, San Juan North and Fatima College drew 2-2, Fyzabad Secondary clobbered Trinity College of Moka 4-0 led by braces from Daviyd Jones and Nashorn Simon, and Queen’s Royal College and Pleasantville shared the points in a 1-1 draw.
Results & Standings
Signal Hill 4 (Omarley James 6th, 23rd, Akil Frank 50th, Jelani James 87th) vs St Anthony’s 3 (N’Kosi Salandy 60th, Che Benny 83rd, Krishorn Alexander 86th)
San Juan North 2 (Tigana O’Brien, Tyrell Cameron) vs Fatima 2 (Andrew Abraham, Keyon Williams)
Fyzabad Sec 4 (Daviyd Jones 1st, 61st, Nashorn Simon 6th, 8th) vs Trinity College Moka 0
QRC 1 (Kalev Kiel) vs Pleasantville 1 (Daniel Cowan)
Shiva Boys 2 (Junior Assoon 29th, Jerome Samuel 90+3) vs Naparima 1 (Judah St Louis 2nd)
St Mary’s 2 (Daniel Conocchiari 55th, Tyrese Spicer 57th) vs East Mucurapo 1 (Zion Mc Leod 38th)
St Augustine 0 vs Presentation (San F’do) 0
Latest SSFL Premier Division standing:
Teams P W D L F A Pts
1. Shiva Boys 8 6 1 1 16 8 19
2. St Anthony’s 7 5 1 1 19 9 16
3. Naparima 7 5 1 1 13 6 16
4. Pres (San F’do) 8 5 1 2 9 7 16
5. St Mary’s 8 3 3 2 9 11 12
6. Fyzabad Sec 8 3 2 3 16 12 11
7. San Juan North 8 3 2 3 14 12 11
8. Signal Hill 7 3 2 2 10 8 11
9. P’ville 7 2 3 2 9 9 9
10. Fatima 7 2 2 3 11 12 8
11. St Augustine 8 1 5 2 7 9 8
12. Trinity Moka 8 2 1 5 3 15 7
13. East Mucurapo 7 1 1 5 8 12 4
14. QRC 7 0 3 4 3 7 3
15. St Benedict’s 7 0 2 5 3 12 2