Signal Hill tame Tigers

St Anthony's took the lead after snatching the early momentum, but seemed to coast thereafter. Signal Hill took full advantage of that lapse and did some mauling of their own with two goals in either half to end their opponents' InterCol dreams.

The Tigers got out of the blocks quickly and could have had their first goal in just the fifth minute, but striker Garvin Samaroo tried to walk into goal and Jean Paul Aqui-Blanc forced King to tip the rebound overbar.

But the goal was not long in coming.

In the tenth minute, during another Tigers raid, Signal Hill goalkeeper Shaquille King cleared poorly from a close range Samaroo effort and McIvor collected from just outside the penalty area and buried his left-footed shot inside King's far post.

St Anthony's also kept King busy in the 18th, McIvor looping the ball just over the 'keeper's far vee, and Andel Francois headed just over from 18 metres.

But unlike their previous loss at the hands of St Anthony's in the SSFL "Big Five" semi-finals, Signal Hill played more possession football and kept it along the carpet, using the air ball sparingly.

Francois, who had troubled Signal Hill in that Big Five defeat, was kept under constant guard by at least two defenders.

In the space of two minutes, Signal Hill produced the shock that sent the Tigers reeling to a 2-1 deficit at the break.

First, in the 29th, came the equaliser, as an unmarked Dareem Moore headed home a perfect cross by Shaquille Joefield.

Two minutes later they were in front as the Tigers defence fell asleep, giving Trim time and space to pick his spot and curl around Amoroso with his left boot.

It was the first time for the season St Anthony's had fallen behind and they just did not know how to claw their way back.

Not even in the second half were the North Zone champs allowed an easy minute. Signal Hill amped up the pressure with a goal from Trim in the 51st.

And after soaking up relentless pressure in a ten-minute spell, they struck again to kill off the Tigers' fight, as Jerimiah Bishop shot home from close up.

After defender Savion Kirton and substitute Thulani George missed from close range, Francois pulled a goal back for St Anthony's in the 87th as heavy darkness descended on the pitch.

The lights eventually came on in stoppage time. It was a mere consolation goal, as Signal Hill grabbed the prize of an InterCol semi-final meeting with Arima North Secondary.

The wounded Tigers, meanwhile, will have to settle for a shot at the outstanding "Big Five" title in their almost perfect season.

Signal Hill will now tackle Arima, the East Zonal champs, in Friday’s semi-final contest at the Larry Gomes Stadium in Arima.

Tomorrow, South Zonal winners Naparima is set to face Carapichaima, the Central Zonal title-holders, at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella. And the final is carded for November 23, at a venue to be decided.