Arima North Secondary gave themselves a healthy boost in goal average with their 13-0 dismantling of Barataria South Secondary yesterday in East Zone BG T&T/First Citizens Secondary School Football League (SSFL) action.
Goals flew left, right and through Barataria goalkeeper Hakeem Wilson; five in the first half, and eight more in the second period to deflate the team that barely survived the drop last season, having won their playoff to survive another year.
If legends about the number 13 are believed, they should have bad luck for the rest of the season.
It did not help that Barataria played more than a half with ten men after Atiba Cudjoe was sent off in the 39th minute for a second bookable offence, a poorly advised tackle in the penalty box.
By then Barataria were 4-0 down, and the resultant penalty from Kevin Roberts handed the striker his hat-trick, and Arima North a 5-0 half-time lead.
Roberts and Marcus Gomez made their name against the Barataria defence, Gomez's four second half goals bringing his tally to five, while Roberts added one in the second half to complete his beaver-trick.
But it was Darius Rawlins who started the landslide for Arima from close range. Roberts added another two minutes later, and Gomez got in on the act in the 25th minute.
Roberts would convert two more, including the penalty, to sink Barataria's confidence.
If the first period was just embarrassing, the second half certainly raised serious questions about whether Barataria belonged in the League. And with a man advantage, Arima shored up their goal count.
In the 50th, Neveal Hackshaw dribbled his way through the defence to resume the rout with an easy tap-in, and Gomez made it 7-0 with a fast break, getting the next two goals in quick succession in the 62nd and 64th.
Barataria benefited from a few desperate saves and a couple of off-side decisions, but Arima wrapped it up with late goals from Roberts (81st), Rondell Elie (83rd), Gomez (86th) and Kwame Hazel (89th).