San Juan North Secondary stormed into the final of the Coca Cola National InterCol tournament where it will meet Shiva Boys Hindu College on Monday at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva at 5 pm.
San Juan, the title holders, got a single goal from the boot of captain Renaldo Boyce in a 1-0 victory over a 10-man Signal Hill in the opening game of a double header, while Shiva Boys needed kicks from the penalty spot to deny Carapichaima East 3-2 after the game ended 1-1 at the end of regulation time at the same venue.
Signal Hill, a six-time winner of the tournament, could have taken the lead when Akile Frank gallopped clear from a Jabari George through-ball in the 15th minute but struck a weak shot that failed to trouble goalkeeper Stephon Byer. Thereafter San Juan took control of the game and had only itself to blame for not taking the lead early.
In the 33rd striker Renaldo Boyce blew past his marker inside the penalty area, and with only keeper Devon Daniel to beat, Boyce's attempt struck the out-stretched legs of Daniel and flew over. Later speedy winger Tyrell Cameron had the San Juan crowd on its feet when he stormed down the left flank and delivered a pin-point cross for Brandon Semper to turn nicely in the area, but his powerful left footer flew into the side nettings, as both teams went to the break with the score at nil.
The Tobagonians were hard-hit after the resumption when steady defender Jokiah Leacock received marching orders for his second bookable offence of the match, a reckless challenge on Boyce in full glare of the referee in the 47th minute.
Signal Hill were immediately affected when defender Giovanni Sebro raced from a wide position to fumble a routine clearance in the 54th minute, and Boyce tucked it into the vacant right corner for the lead.
A minute later Brandon Semper sought to seal the win with a curling effort from a free-kick on top the box but it was denied by a diving save by Daniel.
And in the 63rd minute Boyce got the opportunity to put the game beyond reach, turning clear in the box before blazing over the crossbar.
In the second game, Carapichaima forged ahead when Kevon Williams dribbled past his marker and split the Shiva defence with a diagonal pass to Elijah King in the 23rd minute. The talented Carapichaima striker picked his spot and fired the ball past the goalkeeper for the lead.
But after a series of relentless Shiva pressure the equalizer came after MasonÕs right side centre was tucked in by Junior Assoon in the 86th minute. From the penalty spot Shiva goalie Denzil Smith kept out three attempts to spearhead the victory.
Shiva, relegated from the Premier Division of the Secondary Schools Football League, were determined to seal a final berth but were bugged down by a dogged Carapichaima defence and goalkeeper. In 35th minute Kerron Mason's fierce drive was parried by Aaron Best in the Carapichaima goal before being cleared.
And in the 70th Judah Garcia delivered a pin-point cross which Quinn Rodney met sweetly on the head, but Best pushed it over.
Coca Cola Intercol results
(Thursday 30 November)
San Juan North Secondary 1 (Renaldo Boyce 54), Signal Hill Secondary 0 at Ato Boldon Stadium;
Shiva Boys’ Hindu College 1 (Junior Asson 84), Carapichaima East Secondary 1 (Elijah King 23) at Ato Boldon Stadium;
*—Shiva Boys won 3-2 on kicks from the penalty spot
Bishop’s Anstey East 0, Bishop’s Anstey (POS) 1 (Kiana Alexander 67) at St Augustine Secondary.
(Teams - by wired868.com)
Shiva Boys’ Hindu College (4-3-3): 22.Denzil Smith (GK); 32.Ronald Charles (5.Anderson Peters 79), 19.Yohannes Richardson, 3.Jabari Graham, 14.Matthew Beal; 15.Kierron Mason, 6.Tyrel Emmanuel, 10.Judah Garcia (captain); 17.Ronado Edwards (9.Tyrell Baptiste 54), 11.Junior Asson, 7.Quinn Rodney.
Unused Substitutes: 24.Dejon Blondell (GK), 8.Jude Phillip, 20.Adica Ash, 21.Aaron Rodney, 23.Jeremy Williams.
Coach: Hayden Ryan
Carapichaima East Secondary (1-4-3-2): 1.Aaron Best (GK); 4.Brandon St Clair; 6.Josiah King, 2.Colin Wheeler, 18.Akeil Vesprey, 3.Symron Wiseman; 9.Kevon Williams (22.Luke Charles), 12.Kirk Torres, 17.Mecaheil Alexander (captain); 8.Theophilus Bourne, 20.Elijah King (10.Daniel Pascal 65).
Unused Substitutes: 25.Aarion St Clair (GK), 7.Yohance Brereton, 11.Keilon Burnett, 16.Liju James, 23.Ivan Santos.
Coach: Randolph Boyce
Referee: Nicholai Nyron
Wired868 Man-of-the-Match: Denzil Smith (Shiva Boys’ Hindu College)
Upcoming fixtures
(Monday 4 December)
Pleasantville Secondary v Bishop’s Anstey (POS), 3pm, National Girls Intercol final, Ato Boldon Stadium;
San Juan North v Shiva Boys’ Hindu College, National Boys Intercol final, 5pm, Ato Boldon Stadium.