Waste Not, Want not. Mucurapo Secondary Comprehensive can tell you exactly what the old adage means, after going under to neighbours Fatima College in BG T&T Secondary Schools Football League North Zone action yesterday. A barrage of chances went a-begging for both sides at a muddy Mucurapo Road ground, which survived some heavy rainfall before the match even kicked off.
Fatima, enjoying a surge of confidence after they became the first team to upstage Malick on Monday with a 1-0 win, looked ready from the first whistle. Mucurapo goalkeeper Theon Brown was tested early from Chad De Freitas, while his strike partner Dion Joseph, with some quick footwork, kept defenders busy for the opening 25 minutes.
In fact, Brown was called upon to make two brilliant saves from close range in the first 30 minutes to keep Mucurapo from conceding before halftime.
But midway through the first period, and Mucurapo pick up the challenge. The pint-sized Marcus "Half-a-man" Baptiste, easily the shortest player on the pitch, proved a handful for a scrappy Fatima defence. But his fellow forward Mutar Taylor failed to put "Compre" ahead, only thanks to some inspired goalkeeping by Fatima's Andrew Poon King.
The best chance for Mucurapo, though, came in the 35th minute. Again Fatima escaped, even after Mucurapo intercepted an attempted free kick by their opponents and 'Compre' midfielder Terrance Clarke collected and raced through the opposing defence in a manner that would make his assistant coach, Ian "Dread Dribbler" Clauzel extremely proud. Except for his finish. He rounded the diving Poon King, only to slice the ball wide of the left upright.
Fatima had a chance to ease the pressure in the 55th through De Freitas, but he hit wide from close range, one of four perfect scoring chances he fluffed in the final 45 minutes. But De Freitas' captain showed him how it should be done, blasting from distance towards Brown's goal. The Mucurapo custodian got his hand to it, but could only deflect it onto the upright, and back into his net.
Yesterday's SSFL Results:
North Zone
Fatima 1 (Sheldon Bateau 62nd) v Mucurapo 0
Malick 2 (Akeem Bailey 23rd Hollan Joseph 35th) v Diego Martin 0
St Anthony's 3 (Uriah Bentick 30th, Micah Lewis 70th, Rashaad Wint 80th) v QRC 1 (Jerome Mendes 90th)
East Zone
El Dorado 2 (Keon Issac 38th, Brandon Burke 55th) v Hillview 0
St Augustine v San Juan (postponed)
South Zone
Naparima College 3 v St Benedict's 1 (Tristan Wellington 13th)
Princes Town 6 v Siparia 0
Moruga 2 v Pres Sando 3
Central Zone
Carapichaima 1 (Michael Quashie 90th) v Marabella Jr 0
Chaguanas 2 v Tabaquite 3 (Keron Knights [2], Brandon Simpson)