If the first half of the 2005 BG T&T Secondary Schools Football League contest between Mucurapo Senior Comprehensive and Fatima College gave any indication what the score should have been after 90 minutes, "Compre" should have won the battle of Mucurapo Road.
Apparently, no one told Fatima College, because they seemed to have kept their 2004 manual.
One year ago, Mucurapo had got off to a flying start, before their neighbours upstaged them at Fatima ground on second half goals by Chad De Freitas and Stephen St Louis, overturning a 1-0 halftime deficit.
And again yesterday, Fatima pulled off the unthinkable. This time the unlikely heroes of the day were defenders Sheldon Bateau and Marvin James.
The game began on even terms, with both teams having their tries at goal in the opening minutes in a battle of the North Zone leaders. But in the opening 30 minutes, it was a case of attack and counter-attack.
Mucurapo, though, would gain the ascendency in midfield, and although they had some sticky moments, they were first to capitalise on one of their several opportunities. Midfielder Atullah Guerra chested down a throw-in and blasted past Fatima custodian Adrian Foncette for a 1-0 lead.
But Fatima must have had some extra tenacity stored in their dressing room at half time, because they certainly stepped up their game in the second period. But although their passing in midfield improved, the long balls for forwards Chad De Freitas and Makesi Lewis were not very effective enough to trouble the taller Mucurapo defenders.
But just as Mucurapo began to relax and appeared to be closing in on their second win of the season, Bateau found the answer in the 74th minute with a fantastic long range effort from the right flank that floated above "Compre" 'keeper Denzil Carabon, hit the inside of the post, and then the net.
James sealed it in the 78th minute, knocking home after a defender headed an initial shot off the goal line. That sparked a roar from the Fatima fans who had kept their emotions in check before then. A late fight for a Mucurapo equaliser was not to be, as the Fatima defence held some dangerous attempts out to claim victory.
In another North Zone match, Malick Senior Comprehensive repeated their 2004 second round League performance against St Anthony's College, when a final minute goal--just as last year--earned them a 1-1 draw at the 'Tigers' Westmoorings lair.
Keron Ross was Malick's star on the afternoon, cancelling a Micah Lewis first-half strike just before the final whistle.
And Qian Grovesnor had a double for St Mary's College, who also had the benefit of an own goal to earn a 4-0 victory over Tranquility Government Secondary at St Mary's Serpentine Road ground in their first match of the season.
Today, Tobago will see its first set of matches in the competition, as Roxborough Composite takin on Elizabeth's College in the opener of a double-header at the Dwight Yorke Stadium from 3 p.m. Then arch-rivals Signal Hill and Scarborough do battle from 5 p.m.
The fifth team from the Tobago Zone, Bishop's High School, are on bye.
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