SOUTH CHAMPIONS Presentation College moved into the final of the BGTT/First Citizens Secondary School Football League with a 2-1 victory late yesterday over Tobago champions Scarborough Secondary at the Dwight Yorke Stadium, Tobago.
After eliminating East champions Arima North 1-0 at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Presentation now join last year's beaten finalists Carapichaima East Secondary in next Monday' s final.
Presentation never trailed after taking a 12th minute lead through powerfully-built striker Civaughn Dimsoy. Andell Williams then doubled the advantage through a 42nd minute free-kick. Jem Gordon got a consolation for Scarborough in the 70th minute, but the Tobago team got no closer.
Presentation are unbeaten this season having won 14 matches on the trot, while Carapichaima's only defeats have come twice to Central Zone rivals Chaguanas North, one of those results being reversed in the protest room. Carapichaima upset North champions St Anthony's 1-0 at the semi-final stage at Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar on Tuesday.
An "exhausted" Presentation coach Shawn Cooper told the Express after the match that he is proud of his players. He described the recovery period between matches, after they played their quarter-final against Arima Secondary Comprehensive at Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar--which they won 1-0--as "murderous". And because of that, he lauded his players.
"They played with a lot of heart," Cooper said. "I think in the second half the fatigue factor came in and we started to play a little deeper. We encouraged them to come forward and try to catch them on the break. Then we gave away a soft goal, but in saying so I think the game was a well-thought out one."
Cooper singled out his defenders for doing "yeoman service", and is looking forward to next Monday's final against Carapichaima East.
" I saw them against St Anthony's. If you are a coach and you looked at the game, it was not a pretty game. St Anthony's should have won the game, but a silly error by the goalkeeper (caused the upset). I don't think they played with any structure. But [Carapichaima] are a team which fights, and they will come with some fight (in the final against us).
"This is their second Big Five final (after they lost last year's decider)," Cooper said, "so they will be looking forward to get a victory, but we'll go out there and play like any other game."
In the first match of the yesterday double-header, Bishop High School beat St Francois Girls 1-0 to reach the final of the girls InterCol competition. Bishops will now meet Debe High School in the final. Debe High School whipped St Augustine 3-0 at the first semi-final stage.
In the first match of the yesterday double-header, Bishop High School beat St Francois Girls 1-0 through a goal from Kirsten Julien to reach the final of the girls InterCol competition. Bishops will now meet Debe High School in the final. Debe High School whipped St Augustine 3-0 at the first semi-final stage.
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