Fatima College's Emmanuel Joseph seems to have trouble advancing past Mucurapo Senior Comprehensive defenders Irvin Rullow (left) and Nigel Arthur during the teams' BG T&T Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) encounter yesterday at Fatima Ground, Mucurapo.
Fatima College yesterday accomplished something no other North Zone team has thus far in the 2004 BG T&T Secondary Schools Football League-steal full points from Mucurapo Senior Comprehensive.
Fatima came from a goal behind to win the battle of Mucurapo Road at their ground, withstanding a strong Mucurapo challenge late in the second half to triumph 2-1.
It was Fatima who got things going in the first half, prompting a few early saves from Mucurapo custodian Nigel Thomas, "Compre" having some nervous opening minutes.
Fatima goalkeeper Adrian Foncette was called upon to do some saving of his own in the tenth minute, after he handled the ball outside the 18-yard area, giving away a free kick to Mucurapo.
Antullah Guerra had an attempt on goal, but could only hit the left post.
A cross from Cyrano Glenn a minute later was met by Guerra, but he headed just wide of the target. Fatima were again saved a few minutes later when a defender cleared from just in front the goal after Foncette failed to hold onto a long distance blast.
Mucurapo finally found a way through the Fatima defence, but Allan Hope was brought down in the penalty area by Foncette en route to goal, and Glenn stepped up to score the penalty kick, sending Foncette the wrong way for a 1-0 lead.
Closer to the interval, Fatima's passing and ball control began to deteriorate, but they were able to keep the deficit to one goal at the half.
In the second session, Fatima came out more business-like, but turned down a golden chance for an equaliser in the 50th, Chad De Freitas missing a diving header.
Despite some wayward passing in the second half, Fatima escaped some close shaves and kept pressing for a goal.
Mucurapo were made to regret their wasted chances in the 72nd minute, as De Freitas snuck into the penalty area and met a cross with his head to level the scores. Mucurapo became even more nervous and stepped up the pressure, coming very close at times, but their rivals kept scrambling the ball away.
Fatima took the lead in the 85th minute through Stephen St Louis, who collected a right side pass and, freeing himself, shot low past Thomas to make the score 2-1.
They had a scare when a Mucurapo goal was disallowed for an infringement, and again when the ball ran across the face of Foncette's goal, but Fatima held on to take full points on the day.
In other North Zone action, at St Anthony's Ground, the "Tigers" made up some ground and are now two points off the lead, which Mucurapo hold on goal difference over Fatima.
A hat-trick from Lester Peltier, as well as strikes from Jamal Wiggins, Yohannsey Marshall, Kareem Freitas and Kevon Neaves took them past Morvant/Laventille 7-1.
On CIC Ground on Serpentine Road, the "Saints" dispatched cellar-placed Tranquillilty 4-0, while Malick dominated QRC at QRC Ground to come away 3-1 winners.
Yesterday's SSFL scores:
NORTH ZONE
Fatima 2 (Chad De Freitas, Stephen St Louis) Mucurapo (Cyrano Glenn, pen)
Tranquillity 0 CIC 4 (Quashif Clarke 45th, Kyle McIvor 55th, Aldo Hope 74th, 79th)
St Anthony's 7 (Lester Peltier 3, Jamal Wiggins, Yohannsey Marshall Kareem Freitas, Kevon Neaves) Morvant/Laventille 1
Malick 3 QRC 1
SOUTH ZONE
Naparima 1 (Kezi Lara) Moruga 0
St Benedicts 3 (Keron Smith, Avid Applewhite 2) Pleasantville 1 (Jarron Roberts)
Vessigny 2 Fyzabad 0
Mayaro 0 Princes Town 0
CENTRAL ZONE
Carapichaima 4 (Kerron Smith, Brent De Verteuil, Keston Cornwall 2) Tabaquite 0
Chaguanas Senior Comprehensive 5 (Lenwill Lewis, o.g. Ryan Marrin, Rod Simon, Justin Augustus, Akim Votor) Union/Claxton Bay 3 (Akim Garcia, Nigel Diasingh, Ryan Marrin)
EAST ZONE
Barataria 3 (Rodnell John, Kadeem Gibbs, Elijah Manner) San Juan 0
St George's 2 (Marlon White, Marlon St Louis) Valencia 0
El Dorado 2 (Larnelle St Hillaire 2, o.g.) St Augustine 3 (Trevel Mansano 2, Shastri Spencer)
Arima 1 (Michael Hospedales) Hillview 0