Nippy winger Kieran Marin scored twice for Fatima College in a convincing 3-0 defeat of four-time InterCol winners St Anthony’s in Westmoorings, yesterday.
Fatima thus extended its winning streak to five consecutive games and stretched its lead atop the North Zone of the Secondary Schools Football League to eight points over second-place Malick, who had the day off.
As was expected, St Anthony’s, brimming with confidence after drubbing table-proppers Tranquillity 7-1 on Saturday, took the game to the opponents.
Known to be a formidable force at home, the Tigers produced several goal-scoring opportunities in the early stages of the match, but failed to find the target. Fatima, on the other hand, took a while to settle, but when they finally “found their footing”, it was St Anthony’s who was made to feel the pressure.
Fatima went on to take the lead in the 23rd minute through lanky striker Makesi Lewis. Running on to a long clearance from his goal-keeper Adrian Foncette, Lewis controlled the ball nicely just outside of the box, dribbled two defenders and calmly side-footed his shot past St Anthony’s custodian Devon Francois.
Marin was guilty of spurning an easy scoring chance just moments before Lewis got the opening goal, hitting wide with nobody but Francois to beat.
He atoned for the miss in the 33rd, making no mistake from close range when Francois parried a snap-shot from Lewis in his direction.
His powerfully driven shot found the roof of the net, leaving the Tigers’ keeper and defencemen helpless.
Coming into the second-half two goals down, St Anthony’s started the period much like they did the first. Believing that one goal could change the complexion of the match, the Tigers started to give skilful left-winger Akil De Freitas more of the ball. His dribbling down the flank, although attractive at times, did little to trouble the Fatima back line.
The visitors started to control the match again mid-way through the half and almost grabbed a third item in the 76th, when mid-fielder Kevon Villaroel’s accurate centre found striker Chad De Freitas unmarked in the area. His header sailed over the bar, unfortunately.
Marin, playing on the left, capped off a solid performance from Fatima in the 90th, latching on to a diagonal pass from substitute Sherron Joseph and unleashing another firmly-struck shot past Francois.
Yesterday’s Scoreboard
(North Zone)
Fatima 3 (Makesi Lewis 23rd, Kieron Marin 33rd, 90th) vs St Anthony’s 0
QRC 1 (Kisean Worrell 16th)vs St Mary’s 1 (Maurice Beggs 18th)
Mucurapo 5 vs Tranquillity 1
(East Zone)
St Augustine 5 (Daniel Joseph 28th, Shastri Spencer 71st, 82nd, 73rd, own goal (David Gill), Joel Williams 77th) vs Arima 1 (Andrew Revaneles 89th)
Malabar Composite 3 vs Hillview 1 (Keron Lambert)
El Dorado 13 (Dwight Crichlow 3, Kendell Allen 3, Jamal Gay 3, Keston Henry 2, Kernater Morris 2) vs St George’s 0
(South Zone)
Vessigny 1 (Sian Thomas 55th) vs Naparima 1 (Javed Mohammed 35th)
St Benedict’s 2 (Michael Edwards, Kevin Francis) vs Fyzabad 0
Princes Town 1 vs Moruga 1
(Central Zone)
Presentation 3 (Trent Loheed, Jessy Stewart, Marvin Manswell) vs Marabella Junior 0
Chaguanas 6 (Andy Armstrong 40th, 50th 57th, Andell St Clair 21st, 31st, Juma Lucas 42nd) vs Union Claxton Bay 0
Carapichaima 5 (Kellol Greene 47th, Jesse Mathews 54th, Ronald Cotton 73rd, Keron Smith 75th, Joel Medosa 76th) vs Tabaquite 0.
NB: Tobago Zone had no play
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