The race for the BG T&T Secondary Schools Football League North Zone title remained ever so tight after the top two teams, Malick Senior Comprehensive and St Anthony's College, played to a 0-0 draw at Westmoorings yesterday.
At Fatima Ground, defending "North" champions Mucurapo Secondary Comprehensive finally got their campaign off the ground with their first points from a 1-0 win over Trinity College.
Diego Martin Secondary also moved up to fourth in the standings with an upset 2-0 victory over QRC, with Cordell Cato strikes in either half.
But at St Anthony's Ground, coaches Sterling Figaro of Malick and the home side's Nigel Grovesnor would have been hoping for early inroads in the top-of-the-table clash.
Malick had the first look at goal in a first half they dominated, but skipper Robert Primus--also a national under-17 defender and their best player on the day-shot just beyond St Anthony's goalie Kevin Mussio's left post. The national Under-23 custodian was tested a few more times during the match but, except for a blunder midway through the first half, proved equal to the task.
St Anthony's Emery Joyeau proved a thorn in the Malick defence for most of the game, coming close to the mark with some long-distance shots, but unable to beat Joseph Baird in Malick's goal. He had a shot stifled in the 27th and another snuffed out by the defence hurriedly less than a minute later. But the "Tigers" came closest through McKel Williams, whose volley from 40 metres out narrowly missed the mark.
The Tigers had the better start in the second period, Malick right back Jamaal Reyes unable to cope with the speed of Qian Grovesnor and Joyeau. Both came close to scoring after whizzing by him several times, so much so that a supporter yelled at Figaro to substitute him quickly. A late surge from the Tigers was not enough to secure victory at home, which sets up the North Zone for a thrilling clash the next time these teams meet.
Yesterday's BG T&T SSFL results
North Zone
St Anthony's College 0 v Malick Sec Comprehensive 0
QRC 0 v Diego Martin Secondary 2 (Cordell Cato [2] )
Mucurapo Sen Comprehensive 1 (Kevin Molino) v Trinity College 0
East Zone
Toco Composite 1 v Arima Sec Comprehensive 2 (Kellon Malchan; Karscle Dyer)
St Augustine Sec Comp 1 v Hillview College 0
South Zone
Princes Town Sen Comp 4 v St Benedict's College 0
Naparima College 0 v Vessigny Secondary 0
Siparia Secondary 0 v Moruga 0
Central Zone
Waterloo High 1 v Presentation College (Chag) 0
Chaguanas Sen Comp 3 (Corey Glasgow 33rd, 56th; Cion Regis 84th) v Tabaquite Composite 1
Carapichaima Sen Comp 4 (Trent Lougheed 10th; Jeffon Cornwall 13th, 19th; Michael Quashie 88th) v Marabella Jr Sec. 1
Tobago Zone
Speyside Secondary 2 v Mason Hall Secondary 6
Signal Hill Sen Comp 1 (Anderson Taylor) v Bishop's High 0
16