As has become customary in recent years, Carapichaima East Secondary have once again become the first team to book their spot in the BG T&T Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) "Big Five" competition, after treating Marabella Secondary to a 5-0 pounding at Carapichaima yesterday.
"Caps" had a double by Anton Gill, as well as goals from Tevin Bick, Nathan James and captain Michael Renaud to shut out Marabella, allowing them to celebrate yet another Central Zone title one match early.
The Central giants will face Presentation College Chaguanas Tuesday for their final League fixture, before turning their attention to their Tobago Zone opponents in the "Big Five" quarter-finals.
They seem likely to be paired with Mason Hall Secondary for that tie, which would be a replay of their 2007 encounter at the Dwight Yorke Stadium in Bacolet, Tobago.
Steve Gopeesingh, Caps' manager, is looking forward to the challenge, which he feels is a big step up from playing in the Central Zone.
"The Central Zone is no challenge for us," Gopeesingh told the Sunday Express, "and that has been bringing down our game because the teams (in Central) are very weak."
Although Gopeesingh feels disappointed about the officiating in the 2007 match, he is expecting his team to rise to their latest challenge.
"It's left to the players. We're doing our work for them, they have to do the rest."
In the East Zone, Arima North Secondary pulled off a 1-1 draw away to Trinity College East in Trincity, in their bid to avoid relegation.
After a dull first half, which saw the teams locked at 0-0 at the interval, Trinity pulled ahead in the 63rd through Robert Alexis.
Arima, in relegation trouble, needed a win to move to a more comfortable position, with only Toco behind them, by a single point.
Alexis was fed a terrific ball by left wing Jean Paul Aqui-Blanc on the right side of the area and he failed to control.
But it bobbled off onrushing Arima custodian Joseph Craig and landed in front of Alexis for a simple tap-in.
After that, Arima raised their game and eventually were rewarded in the 69th minute with a penalty, after constant bombardment on the home defence.
Captain Shobare Hamilton stepped up for the spot kick and made no mistake, rightly putting the teams on even keel, after both had failed to capitalise on several opportunities.
Late on, Arima forced saves out of Trinity 'keeper Romario Romain, hit the upright, had a shot cleared off the line, and narrowly cleared the crossbar.
Mason Hall tops Tobago.
…first team to qualify for Big 5
By: Gregory Trujillo (T&T Guardian).
Mason Hall, St Augustine, Carapichaima and Presentation could start preparing for the Big Five in the BG T&T Secondary Schools Football League.
Mason Hall officially booked its place in the “Champion of Champion” series yesterday by coming from behind to scrape past Goodwood 2-1 to top the Tobago Zone standings ahead of schedule.
It goals were scored by Ato Clarke (55th) and Brandon Joseph (68th).
Taza McMillan gave the homesters the lead in the 34th minute. The 2007 Tobago champion was so confident of capturing the crown that it sent its manager Anthony Williams to Trinidad to take a peep at Carapichaima in action against Marabella.
Mason Hall is highly likely to face “Caps” in the first round of the Big Five next week Monday with the winner opposing Presentation three days later.
St Augustine whipped Toco 3-1 away from home to attain an unassailable 22 points in the East Zone and Carapichaima will go into its final encounter with main challenger Presentation Chaguanas on Tuesday three points clear atop the Central Zone table after mauling Marabella South 5-0 at home.
Presentation, which was on a bye yesterday, heads the South Zone with 23 points. It needs just one win in it last two matches against Shiva Boys’ (Tuesday) and Vessigny (Friday), teams it defeated in the first round.
With three points still separating the first four teams in the North Zone, St Mary’s holds the best chance of copping the title, after ending the chances of defending champion East Mucurapo with a slender 2-1 victory on Fatima grounds in Mucurapo.
CIC has the two softest teams in the zone still to play, Trinity and Woodbrook. With the win, the Saints climbed to 21 points, one less than leader Queen’s Royal College, which beat Trinity 3-0 in Moka with leading goalscorer Akil Morris netting a double to carry his tally of goals to 10 for the season.
Cordel Cato also moved to 10 goals after scoring a second half treble in host St Anthony’s 7-0 win over newcomer Woodbrook.
The victory took the “Westmoorings Tigers” to 19 points with outstanding matches against QRC and Fatima (19 pts).
St Mary’s took the lead against Mucurapo in the 28th minute when Chad Appoo took a shot from on top the box. The ball hit the upright and Akhil Noel slammed in the rebound.
Mucurapo equalised six minutes later. From a play on the left flank where Yohan Peltier dummied his marker, the cross fell to Samuel Delice, who beat goalkeeper Raheem Belgrave.
The winning Saints goal came in the 61st minute when a free kick from on the left side of the field taken by Chad Appoo went off the head of a Mucurapo defender, hit the right upright, and went in.
A joyful St Mary’s coach, Jason Edwards commented after the victory: “This was a real big game for us. It was a good test and we dominated the majority of the game and deserved to win.”
“We’re not sitting on our laurels. We have two more games to go and we want to win both.” Skipper Kyle Beggs said: “All the players have worked hard and as a result we should definetly win the league.
We have played our hearts out and have fought to the very end.”
“Gustine” star strikers Jevaughn Vance (eight goals) and Mikkel Collymore (seven goals) were again on the ball, as the duo netted along with Isiah Mejias (penalty) for the “Green Machine” to beat Toco and stay five points clear of closest rival San Juan North.
The San Juan boys gave themselves a glimmer of hope by shutting out Sangre Grande 2-0 on the Ojoe Road Recreation Ground in Sangre Grande.
Mason Hall, Carapichaima grab Tobago, Central titles.
T&T Newsday Reports.
Mason Hall and Carapichaima copped the Tobago and Central Zone crowns as the Championship Division of the British Gas Trinidad and Tobago (BGTT) Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) continued yesterday.
Needing a point away to Goodwood, Mason Hall prevailed 2-1 to dethrone Signal Hill as Tobago champs — Brandon Joseph and Ato Clarke found the back of the net for Mason Hall.
Signal Hill had a measure of consolation as they hammered second-placed Scarborough 5-0 at Bon Accord, with goals from Runako Jack (fourth minute), Darrem Moore (25th), Purcell Ewing (45th), Shondel Morris (62nd) and Michael Clarke (78th).
Carapichaima completed a successful defence of their Central title after thrashing visitors Marabella 5-0, courtesy of a double from Anton Gill and one apiece from Michael Renaud, Tevin Dick and Nathan James.
Presentation Chaguanas were also unkind to their visitors, as they spanked Waterloo 5-1. Satyam Pollard scored twice for the hosts, while Navin Daniel, Avinash Deonarine and Jeremy Clarke added one apiece, with Shekel Dennis getting Waterloo’s consolation.
Both Carapichaima and Presentation Chaguanas will meet on Tuesday. Carapichaima have a three point lead over Presentation Chaguanas, but an unassailable plus-14 goal difference.
The fight for the East Zone will be determined this week, as leaders St Augustine and second-placed, and reigning champs, San Juan were both in winners’ row yesterday.
St Augustine went to Toco and returned with a 3-1 win, with Mikkel Collymore, Jevaughn Vance and Isiah Mejias on target for St Augustine, while Keshorn Walcott got Toco’s consolation.
Stevaughn Paul and Dillon Niles were the goal-getters for San Juan as they whipped hosts Sangre Grande 2-0.
With a five-point lead over San Juan, St Augustine only need a win, in their final two matches, to dethrone the 2008 champs.
The other East match yesterday saw Trinity East and Arima battle to a 1-1 draw at Trincity, with Robert Alexis (Trinity) and Shabore Hamilton (Arima) getting their names on the score-sheet.
QRC stayed atop of the North Zone after whipping the visiting Trinity 3-0, with Ahkil Morris netting twice while an own goal worsened Trinity’s woes.
St Mary’s overtook Fatima for second spot with a 2-1 victory over 2008 zonal winners Mucurapo 2-1 at the Fatima Ground. Ahkil Noel and Chad Appoo were on target for St Mary’s with Samuel Delice replying for Mucurapo.
And third-placed St Anthony’s were in a merciless mood against their visitors Woodbrook, as they romped to a 7-0 rout.
National Under-17 striker Cordell Cato notched a hat-trick while Reshard Allen, Dwight Ceballo, Mikael Walters and Andel Francois chipped in with one apiece.
With leaders Presentation San Fernando on a bye, third-placed Naparima kept alive their chances of retaining the South crown with a 5-0 thrashing of Princes Town in the second match of a double-header at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella.
Dwayne Edwards scored a second-half treble (55th, 71st and 81st), following strikes from Daquielle Matthews (12th) and Anthony Parris (29th).
Earlier at Marabella, second-placed St Benedict’s spanked Siparia 6-1, with Sheldon Alexander (40th and 45th) and Shackiel Henry (41st and 83rd) each scoring twice while Marc Hunte (14th) and Machel Mark (86th) got one apiece. Akeem John (53rd) pulled one back for Siparia.
And, at Penal, Shiva Boys and Vessigny drew 1-1, with Alfred John scoring for Shiva Boys and Marcus Joseph netting for Vessigny. Action in all five zones continue on Tuesday.