The "Blue Thunder" of El Dorado Senior Secondary stormed in to the semi-final of the RBTT Intercol East Zone when they overwhelmed defending champions Arima Senior Comprehensive, ending any hopes they had of defending their RBTT Intercol East Zone title vanished when they were struck down 6-0 at the Larry Gomes Stadium yesterday.
The two halves of the encounter were completely different, both sides having similar possession, and several chances at the other's net, but were unable to benefit from these opportunities, the only thing separating them being an "El Do" penalty three minutes into injury time, put away by Keston Henry just before the whistle blew.
In the second period, the "Dial Dynamos" lost their rhythm once their opponents had increased the deficit in the 49th minute. Kernater Morris running down the left flank held off a defender long enough to get in a cross, and Dwight Crichlow met it with his head to beat Demasius Metevier in Arima goal.
Arima seemed to lose their spring at the back after that, and let in another two minutes later in the 51st, Crichlow getting his second, as he ran into the box, keying up and drilling into the roof of the net. 3-0 El Dorado.
Arima's resolve seemed all the more shaky after, and the held a rampant El Do until the 60th minute, Larnelle St Hillaire getting his name on the scorecard with a blast between defenders and the keeper at the near post.
Arima had their best chance of the match a minute later as Noel Charles ran into the box with only the 'keeper to beat, but faltered in the area and was robbed of the ball. It was 5-0 El Dorado in the 72nd, when Asani Wharwood took advantage of some lax defending by Arima, and knocking home the loose ball.
Crichlow rounded out the scoring when he snatched his hat-trick in the 81st minute, when he made some room for himself in the penalty area, and with no defender close enough to cut him off, shot low to Metevier's left.
The Blue Thunder, though will face a much bigger challenge in National League champs St Augustine Senior Secondary, who blew by Valencia High School 5-0 to cop the other spot in the "semis"".
The RBTT Intercol continues today with matches in the North and South zones, when North League champs Mucurapo Senior Comprehensive tackle Morvant/Laventille from 3 p.m. at the Hasely Crawford Stadium. After that, Fatima College meet CIC at the same venue.
In the South at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Mayaro Composite and Fyzabad Composite meet in the first fixture at 3 p.m., before Naparima College and Pleasantville Senior Comprehensive go head to head from 5 p.m.
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