Class was undoubtedly in session yesterday at Larry Gomes Stadium in Malabar as St Augustine Secondary delivered a telling lesson--in the form of a 13-0 hammering--to newly-promoted East Zone Senior Division winners Barataria South Secondary in East Zone Coca Cola InterCol quarter-final action.
On the surface, it looked like a hazing ritual, as evidenced by a 4-0 half-time scoreline. It turned out to be a full-blown assault with a second-half beaver-trick by midfielder Dwayne Salazar and a double by Zavion Navarro, after ’Green Machine’ captain Jevaughn Vance notched a brace in the first period.
Barataria were out of their league and it showed early on, but they kept the scoresheet clean for half the opening session, largely because St Augustine’s shooting compass let them down.
But Stefon Pierre changed that in the 25th minute, putting away Theon James’s corner kick despite Barataria goalkeeper Shkeel Johnson getting a palm to it.
Barataria did not look horrendous coming forward and flashes of potential could be seen there. But the gap in class and experience between the teams was unmistakeable and Barataria were able to make few soujourns forward because of the constant need to defend.
Three more goals came in six minutes before the break. First, Nikkel Collymore struck in the 39th, then skipper Vance doubled up in the 41st and 44th minutes, twice chipping a hapless Johnson, who did get a hand to the second effort.
Things got no better in the second period and the Green Machine had doubled their lead by 70 minutes.
Collymore resumed the onslaught in the 54th, following a procession of misses by his teammates, and Aeion Charles (64th) also hit net, while substitute Navarro made it 7-0 with his first touch of the match.
Salazar beat Johnson four times inside the last 21 minutes, including a banana kick from the corner flag, and Brian Hernandez put the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) ’Big Five’ champions into double figures in the 83rd.
Navarro finally put an emphatic full stop on the scoring in the 90th and the onslaught was finally over.
Arima North Secondary would have looked on worriedly as St Augustine piled on the goals, as they are the next team in line to face the rumbling Green Machine in the East semi-finals on Saturday at the Malabar venue.
Arima got past Trinity College East in the second match at ’Larry Gomes’ yesterday with second half items from Kyle Campbell and Nicholas Armstrong.
Yesterday’s InterCol scores:
East Zone
St Augustine 13 (Stefon Pierre 25th; Nikkel Collymore 39th, 54th; Jevaughn Vance 41st, 44th; Aeion Charles 64th; Zavion Navarro 68th, 90th; Dwayne Salazar 69th, 81st, 85th, 88th; Brian Hernandez 83rd) v Barataria South 0
Arima North 2 (Kyle Campbell 53rd, Nicholas Armstrong 90th) v Trinity College East 0
Today’s InterCol Fixtures:
North Zone
Queen’s Royal College vs St Anthony’s College, 3 p.m., Hasely Crawford Stadium
St Mary’s College vs Fatima College, 5 p.m., Hasely Crawford Stadium
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