The pint-size forward Che Benny looped in a long-range shot in the final minute to earn 10-man St Anthony’s College a 3-3 draw with hosts Queen’s Royal College in a highly competitive match in the Premier Division of the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) yesterday in St Clair.
It was Benny’s second goal in the intense affair that saw the “Westmoorings Tigers” come-from-behind to tie the score and deny Nigel Grosvenor-coached QRC its second win of the season.
Grosvenor, though disappointed with not getting the win, appreciated the draw and was more impressed by the effort of his young team.
“They are inexperienced but the are playing with passion,” said the former coach of St Anthony’s College after the match. “They are a talented bunch, today (yesterday) was very good.”
QRC got on the scoresheet first when “Man of the Match” captain Anfernee Stokes, connected a low header through goalkeeper Jabari Brice’s legs in the 15th minute from a free kick on the right side. The lead was short-lived after a fumble by QRC’s keeper Jermaine McNeil allowed St Anthony’s to level the score thanks to a long- range shot from Tyrese Bailey.
“We have been plagued by soft goals all season but I can’t come down on him (McNeil), he is just 15 years old,” said Grosvenor of his inexperienced custodian. “After our main keeper got injured we basically threw him in the lion’s den but he is doing well.”
Another bad judgment by keeper McNeil saw him bring down a player inside the box. Benny stepped up and connected the penalty to give St Anthony’s a 2-1 lead which it held on to at the half.
Play remained just as intense in the second session with both teams having their fair share of missed chances and frustration seemed to seep onto the field.
It was a penalty in the 60th from Stokes that tied scores 2-2 before Randy Harris gave QRC the go ahead goal in a scramble on the line.
St Anthony’s knew they would need something great in the final moments of the match and that it got from Benny, who, from a free kick, placed the ball in the left-hand corner away from a visibly disappointed McNeil.
Over at Mucurapo Road in Port-of-Spain, Premier Division leader Shiva Boys’ Hindu College made light work of Fatima College to maintain their top position, winning 4-1. Quinn Rodney (24th), Tyrel Emmanuel (67th), Ronaldo Edwards (90th) and Kierron Mason (92nd) were on target for the Shiva Boys’ team.
The southerners now move to 16 points after seven matches and hold a slim advantage by goal difference to arch rivals Presentation College, after a three-point advantage was taken away from them by virtue of losing in the protest room last week.
Presentation continued its impressive run with a narrow 3-2 victory over hosts Fyzabad Secondary.
It was a good evening for St Benedict’s as it pulled off its first win of the season defeating hosts Carapichaima East 3-1. Scoring for the winner were Reuel Tyson in the 19th, Jaycee Paras in the 70th and Keon Boney in the 91st.
Kevon Williams scored the lone item for “Caps”, a penalty in the 77th minute.
Minute silence as mark of respect to Clive Pantin.
The SSFL expressed condolences to the family and loved ones of Clive Pantin following his passing yesterday.
Pantin was a former footballer and past national player, a sportsman and an avid supporter of the SSFL. He was a past principal of Fatima College and a former Minister of Education. He was also the founder of Foundation for the Enhancement and Enrichment of Life (FEEL).
As a mark of respect, there will be a minute’s silence before kick off at all SSFL matches today.
Results
QRC 3 (Anfernee Stokes 15th, penalty, Randy Harris) vs St Anthony’s 3 (Tyrese Bailey 26th, Che Benny 32nd penalty, 90th)
Fatima 1 (Justin Araujo-Wilson 40th) vs Shiva Boys 4 (Quinn Rodney 24th, Tyrel Emmanuel 67th, Ronaldo Edwards 90th, Kierron Mason 92nd).
Carapichaima East 1 (Kevon Williams 77th penalty) vs St Benedict’s 3 (Reuel Tyson 19th, Jaycee Paras 70th, Keon Boney 91st)
Trinity College Moka 2 (Kesean St Rose, Kai Phillip) vs Trinity College East 1 (Mickel Orr)
Naparima 2 (Ronaldo McIntosh 66th, Judah St Louis 83rd pen) vs St Mary’s 0
Fyzabad Sec 2 vs Presentation College 3 (Jordan Riley 13th, Jayie Sheppard 62nd, Matthew Joseph 73rd)
St Augustine Sec 5 (Anthony Samuel 2, Kendell Hitlall, Zion Holder, og) vs Speyside 1
Signal Hill 0 vs San Juan North 3 (Renaldo Boyce, Isaiah Chase, Nathaniel Perouse), Signal Hill
Latest Standings
Teams P W D L F A Pts
1. Shiva Boys 7 5 1 1 18 6 16
2. Presentation 7 5 1 1 17 8 16
3. Naparima 7 5 1 1 15 7 16
4. St Augustine 6 4 1 1 16 8 13
5. Fatima 7 4 0 3 7 8 12
6. St Anthony’s 6 3 2 1 19 9 11
7. San Juan North 7 2 5 0 16 6 11
8. Trinity East 7 3 2 2 12 8 10
9. Carapichaima East 7 3 2 2 11 11 10
10. Fyzabad 6 3 0 3 9 10 9
11. Trinity Moka 7 2 0 5 6 17 6
12. QRC 7 1 2 4 8 16 5
13. St Mary’s 6 1 2 3 9 13 5
14. St Benedict’s 7 1 2 4 8 13 5
15. Signal Hill 7 1 1 5 5 13 4
16. Speyside 7 1 0 6 4 15 3
Upcoming Games
(Monday 2 October)
St Mary’s College v St Augustine Secondary, 3.40pm, Serpentine Road;
St Anthony’s College v Fyzabad Secondary, 3.40pm, Westmoorings;
Carapichaima East v Signal Hill, 3.40pm, Carapichaima;
QRC v St Augustine Secondary, 3.40pm, QRC;
Speyside High v Presentation College, 3.40pm, Speyside;
Fyzabad Secondary v St Mary’s College, 3.40pm, Fyzabad;
Trinity College Moka v St Anthony’s College, 3.40pm, Moka;
Naparima College v St Benedict’s College, 3.40pm, Lewis Street;
Shiva Boys HC v Trinity College East, 3.40pm, Penal;
San Juan North v Fatima College, 3.40pm, San Juan.