There is an old saying which stands in sport: "form is temporary, but class is permanent."
The "Dial Dynamos" were buoyed by a 2-0 advantage at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya after 35 minutes, and went in at the break with smiles on their faces and a 2-1 lead. At the end of the match they were ruing the opportunity that went a-begging, and the "East" title that went to the "Green Machine".
Jevaughn Vance slammed home the equaliser in the 71st minute after a first-half own goal gave St Augustine a glimmer of hope. Xavier Navarro then doubled up inside the last 15 minutes to hand the favourites a comfortable win in the end.
What should have been an easy stroll home turned into a nightmare for the St Augustine crowd early on. They were silenced by two first half Arima goals that left the team needing some inspiration to turn the match around.
In the first period, constant Arima pressure was rewarded with two goals in three minutes. First Nicholas Armstrong contributed to the total, unfortunately for him by being stretchered off, after he was mowed down by St Augustine defender Kendall Campbell. Armstrong's match ended there, but Kendes Garcia used the opportunity to curl home the free kick at the edge of the 18-metre box. Then in the 35th, Vaughn Charles showed his discomfort with long range balls, palming Hayden De Verteuil's right side free kick into his net.
St Augustine went in at half-time trailing 2-1, with captain Oswald Wyllie's effort causing a 37th minute own goal.
With his vast experience, coach Michael Grayson must have known exactly what to say to his young charges. They came back out with all the intensity expected of them 45 minutes before, and Arima were forced to defend a lot more.
Vance and company chipped away at Arima's defence, and Wyllie forced Arima goalie Joseph Craig to punch wide. They dribbled, they skipped through, they sped along, but Arima always proved equal-until the 71st minute.
Wyllie charged down the left flank and hooked in a cross. Arima looked to clear, and Vance rifled home the loose ball through a crowd of players. That lifted the St Augustine fans out of their seats, and prompted the loud chanting that accompanied the players for the rest of the match.
Substitute Navarro must have been thus inspired, because he found the winner, striking in the 77th and 85th minutes to seal the hard-fought win that looked unlikely 20 minutes earlier.
First he danced around a confused Craig with his fancy footwork and netted in a one-on-one play, then he collected a pass from Wyllie in the penalty area, took time to pick his spot, and calmly slotted home.
All that was left was for the belated referee's whistle to signal the end of the match, and transform "Green Machine" anticipation into celebration.
Gustine’ wins East Intercol with 4-2 win over Arima.
By: Robin Cumberbatch (schoolsoccernet.com).
St. Augustine Secondary copped the 2008 RBTT East Zone Intercol trophy when they came from two goals down to defeat Arima Secondary 4-2 at the Marvin Lee Stadium.
Arima dominated proceedings in the first half and shocked St. Augustine when they went ahead with a freekick scored by Kendes Garcia in the 32nd minute.
Still reeling from that strike, things got worse for ‘Gustine’ when they went two goals down from yet another freekick in the 35th minute, this time by Hayden De Verteuil.
Just when the game looked like it may have been over as a contest, St. Augustine got a life line two minutes later courtesy an Arima own goal from Brendon McKie.
The half time finished 2-1 in favor of Arima Secondary.
The second half would be a different story as St. Augustine came out the more purposeful of the two teams.
Despite some resolute defending from Arima Secondary, ‘Gustine’ finally got the break through and drew level in the 71st minute from a Jevaughn Vance strike.
Panic set into the Arima team, and St. Augustine moved into another gear.
Six minutes later Xavier Navarro scored to put ‘Gustine’ up 3-2, and then he completed a brace in the 84th minute to seal a remarkable comeback.
The St. Augustine faithful cheered lustily at the blast of the final whistle and the celebrations started. Congratulations to the 2008 RBTT East Zone Intercol Champions, St. Augustine Secondary.