The BGT&T/First Citizens Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) South Zone will be decided in controversial fashion, with Presentation College San Fernando waiting on the outcome of their appeal of a disciplinary matter that will decide their fate.
Presentation wilted in their final match yesterday, losing 3-0 to Pleasantville Secondary at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium when victory was needed to ensure their place in Friday's SSFL "Big Five" semi-finals.
Goals by Shawn Outer (40th minute) and Russell Alfred (75th) on either side of a Jared London (47th) own goal gave "P'ville" the victory, as the mercurial team played spoiler to Presentation's ambitions.
Shiva Boys Hindu College jumped into the South Zone lead with a 4-0 whipping of Princes Town West Secondary at Shiva's Penal base. Naparima College also won, blanking St Benedict's College 2-0 in an entertaining fixture.
Although "Pres" have played all of their matches, they still have an active appeal over a decision by the SSFL disciplinary committee to award Naparima full points in the first round despite a Presentation 3-1 win.
Naparima complained that "Pres" used a player who had been suspended during the match and the committee awarded them the win, but Presentation have appealed the matter. A ruling is expected on Monday, a day before the "Big Five" begins.
As things stand, Shiva lead the standings with 26 points, one ahead of Presentation, who must win the appeal to take the South title.
Naparima, meanwhile, ended on a good note with victory against St Benedict's with goals on either side of halftime from Akeem Humphrey and Jabari Mitchell.
It took Naps a while to get into the match and the "La Romain Lions created the early pressure. But the finishing touch left much to be desired, and ensured that once Naparima settled, they were able to control the match.
St Benedict's best chance of the half came in the seventh minute, when Akil Joseph whipped in a cross from the left flank and Yafeu Rougier's side-footer from the right cannoned back off the crossbar.
But after 20 minutes Naps were in the ascendency, with shots by Jadiel Martin and Daquielle Matthews being blocked by both St Benedict's defenders and goalkeeper, Queselle Nelson.
Humphrey's attempt in the 31st was perfect, though, as St Benedict's lost the ball after a free kick in midfield and Humphrey had enough space and time to finish off the counter-attack from 12 metres.
Naparima took that advantage into the break.
It took Naparima just 16 minutes to get their second, another close-range finish, this time by Jabari Mitchell, who beat two defenders and the onrushing Nelson to a long ball and finished with a delicate flick.
In the North Zone, St Anthony's remained perfect, with a come-from-behind 4-1 away win over Queen's Royal College at St Clair, while East Mucurapo Secondary had their match against Malick Secondary postponed due to scheduling issues at the Hasely Crawford Stadium training field.
And East Zone title contenders El Dorado East and St Augustine Secondary both won—9-1 over Barataria South Secondary and 4-0 over Trinity College East, respectively—to set up a showdown in their rescheduled fixture on Monday.
The winner in that match will take the East title, as El Dorado lead St Augustine by just two points.
Yesterday's SSFL results:
North Zone
St Anthony's 4 vs QRC 1
Trinity College 2 vs St Mary's 1
East Mucurapo 5 vs Malick 0
East Zone
El Dorado 9 vs Barataria South 1
St Augustine Secondary 4 vs Trinity College East 0
Arima w (Darius Rawlins, Kern Roberts) vs Toco 0
South Zone
Presentation 0 vs Pleasantville 3
Shiva Boys 4 vs Princes Town West 0
Naparima 2 (Akeem Humphrey 31st, Jabari Mitchell 62nd) vs St Benedict's 0
Central Zone
Carapichaima East 1 vs Gasparillo 1
El Dorado drops 9 on Barataria in East Zone.
By Andrew Gioannetti (Guardian).
El Dorado East Secondary maintained its unbeaten run in the BGTT First Citizens Secondary Schools Football League when the team breezed past Barataria 9-1 at San Juan Ground, yesterday.
Dwight Quintero netted a first-half hat-trick to compliment an outstanding season thus far in the league. St Augustine kept the race alive in the zone as the team put four unanswered goals past Trinity East at St Augustine Ground. The team is two points behind El Dorado. Arima defeated Toco 2-0 in the other match.
In the North Zone, St Anthony’s College maintained their winning ways with a 4-1 away victory over QRC at QRC Ground.
It was an all-round team effort as four different scorers were on target for the “Tigers”, in typical fashion, as the season has witnessed. The game wrapped up the league season with the “Tiger’s” 14th straight win. The league top scorer, Akil Morris opened for QRC to the delight of the home support.
SSFL Results
North Zone
East Mucurapo 5 (Alvin Jones 2, Akil Campbell, Tafari Williams, Akini Rodriguez) vs Malick 0
Trinity 2 (Joel Caresquero, Uche Alexander) vs St Mary’s 1
St Anthony’s 4 (Adrian Millette 44th, Garvin Samaroo 70th, Raychad Alleyne 77th, Kiel Pierre 90th+4) vs QRC 1 (Akil Morris)
East Zone Results
El Dorado 9 (Dwight Quintero 12th, 15th, 25th, Shaquille Bertrand 35th, 67th, Jameel Forde 78th, 85th, Aaron St Louis 87th, Almaun Muhammad 89th) vs Barataria 1.
Arima 2 (Darius Rawlins, Kern Roberts) vs Toco 0.
St Augustine 4 (Akeem Garcia 4th, 70th, Jamal Creighton 28th, Shaquille Smith (pen) 75th) vs Trinity 0.
South Zone
Naparima 2 (Akeem Humphrey, Jabari Mitchell) vs St Benedict’s 0
Shiva Boys’ 4 (Quesi Weston 47th, 74th, Tevin Peters 50th 84th) vs P/Town West 0
16