Leaders Naparima College dropped their first points in the BGTT/ First Citizens Secondary Schools Football League yesterday afternoon.
Naparima, boasting a perfect record after five rounds, ran into a wall yesterday in the form of fellow-southerners St Benedict’s, in the late game of a double-header at Guaracara Park in Point-a-Pierre.
St Benedict’s, fourth in the points table going into the contest, held Naps to a goalless stalemate; but despite the result, Naparima remained on top in the 13-team table. It was also a disappointment for the fans at Guaracara, after Presentation College and Speyside High had produced a five-goal thriller in the opening fixture.
The Tobagonians announced their intentions as early as the 6th minute when Kerri Mc Donald opening the scoring; however, Corey Cupid levelled for ‘Pres’ in the 24th, and Terrel Williams sent the hosts in front seven minutes before half-time. Speyside were not finished, however; Marcus Caesar drew them level in the 57th minute, but Kareem Riley got the winner for Presentation in the 71st, as the southerners won 3-2.
Meanwhile, QRC were leading visitors Fyzabad 3-2 when the match was called off in the 70th minute. Unconfirmed reports state a fight broke out on the field; QRC were 5th and Fyzabad 6th in the points standings at the kickoff.
Meanwhile, just a short distance away at Serpentine Road, St Mary’s broke their two-match losing streak but could only take one point from visitors Carapichaima. The Saints were in control initially when Aaron Skeene netted a first-half double, but Justin Joseph pulled one back before the interval, and the same player completed his own double in the second half to allow Carapichaima to leave the St Clair venue with a useful 2-2 result.
At Bourg Mulatresse, 3rd-placed San Juan North took full points from St Augustine (5th), beating the visitors 2-0.
St Anthony’s College were the only team to win on the road, scoring a 2-0 victory away to Trinity East that extended the cellar-placed Trinity’s losing run to six matches.
Meanwhile, Trinity North were held 2-2 on their home ground at Moka by struggling Fatima College.
Shiva Boys, lying 3rd at the start of the day, were on a bye.
Related News
SSFL clash abandoned
By Sean Taylor (Express).
It was pure bedlam at the Queen’s Royal College’s ground in St Clair, as the BGTT/First Citizens Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) match between QRC and Fyzabad was abandoned 15 minutes from the end.
The match was called off by referee Larry Lalchan shortly after QRC had regained the lead in the 73rd minute, as players, officials and even the security had to get involved in a fracas that exploded on the touchline.
The conflict came to a head when Ronaldo London struck QRC midfielder Janos Lashley in the face after they both contested an air ball close to the touchline in the vicinity of the bench.
Jahrique Stewart raced off the Royalian bench to confront London, which incited corresponding reactions from the Fyzabad bench, resulting in the match taking a lengthy and unexpected hiatus.
The referee could not quell the dispute despite sending off both London and Stewart, as the Fyzabad bench questioned their players’ safety.
Referee Lalchan blew off the match when he realised that he couldn’t regain control of the contest, leaving both parties to make a post-match appeal to the SSFL administration.
Before the premature end, QRC raced into a 2-0 lead after 24 minutes after Demetri Dunkley and Joash Williams found the back of the net.
The first real talking point of the ill-tempered match came when Royalian centre back Tevin Lessey scythed Fyzabad winger Alleric Williams right on the halfway line in full view of both benches.
Lessey was fortunate to stay on the pitch as the referee waved a yellow card for the offence.
QRC’s midfield began to click shortly after Williams cut inside on his left foot and beat Jerris Mitchel in the Fyzabad goal at the near post.
However, it was a midfield error that let the visitors in at the 40th minute mark, with Fyzabad’s Nashorn Simon lobbing a deflected left-footer over QRC skipper Jadel Poon Lewis, who was off his goal line.
Fyzabad found the equaliser on the stroke of half-time when Phillip Felmin flicked his header past Poon Lewis into a gaping net. The 45th-minute goal was immediate retribution for Felmin, who moments earlier wasted a chance when one-on-one with the keeper.
The tide turned when a penalty was awarded for the hosts after Tereque Hadley was adjudged to be felled in the area, much to the protest of the Fyzabad bench.
Joash Williams made no mistake from the spot however the penalty, which put hosts in front 3-2 lead, was the last play as the tension boiled over moments later.
Among the other fixtures, defending champions Naparima College dropped their first points of the season as they drew in the second match of the double-header at the Guaracara Park with St Benedict’s College.
Presentation College San Fernando continued their good form to beat Speyside High 3-2 to come within a point of the leaders in second place.
Trinity College Moka and St Mary’s College both drew 2-2 at home when they played Fatima College and Carapichaima East respectively.
San Juan North bested St Augustine 2-0 at their fortress in Bourg Mulatresse, while St Anthony’s added more pain to Trinity College East’s campaign, beating them 2-0 at home in Westmoorings.
Teams - (by wired868)
St Anthony’s College (1-3-4-2): 1.Jabari Brice (GK); 18.Joseph Simon (captain); 20.Brent Joel, 15.Nicholas Moyou, 9.Shakeem Patrick; 11.Afriel Kerr (21.Nkosi Salandy 46), 16.Gyasi Moore (13.Shem Clauzel 46), 8.Jules Lee, 7.Kathon St Hillaire; 19.Andrew Rullow, 10.Kwesi “Jep” Allen.
Unused Substitutes: 22.Oba Augustine (GK), 17.Raheem Borde, 12.Jediel Harewood, 4.Haile Beckles.
Coach: Nigel Grosvenor
Trinity College East (4-2-3-1): 22.Shamall Joseph (GK); 6.Jalani Augustus, 3.Stephan Ealie, 17.Christian Ransome (captain), 15.Romario Williams; 7.Andre Raymond (26.Darius Pierre 87), 21.Davidson Lawrence; 9.Kishion Hackshaw, 18.Fortune Rivaldo (14.Akeino Edwards 77), 25.Myles Ryan (24.Jarved Elcock 55); 20.Nickel Orr.
Unused Substitutes: 16.Kemuel Keshwar, 19.Jonathan Plaza, 23.Winston Guiseppi.
Coach: Gerald Pollonais
Referee: Ishmael Mohammed
Man of the Match: Kathon St Hillaire (St Anthony’s College)
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