Naparima still unbeaten.
By: Mervyn Stewart.[/size]
Naparima stopped Mayaro 3-1 in their final encounter in the South Zone of the BG T&T Secondary Schools Fooball League at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium yesterday.
The hosts got a double from Dinaka Jamdir, plus a single strike from Javed Mohammed, in registering their eighth victory for the 2005 season.
Naps, who should have opened the scoring when 13-year-old Sheldon Winchester's bullet hit the crossbar and went out of play, got sweet revenge as Jimdar got the best of a scrimmage to register Naparima's first a minute later.
Naps went 2-0 up midway through the first session when Jimdar again blasted home after a right side cross from Renato Ramlochan.
Mayaro came out blazing in the second session and in the 57th minute, Jody Allsop reduce Naps' lead when his powerful left-footed free kick beat Curtis Julien in Naps' goal after Allsop was pulled down just outside the 18-metre box.
In the 66th, Javed Mohammed put the icing on Naps' cake with a powerful left footer about 12 metres out that gave 'keeper Justice Maurice no chance.
Naps played unbeaten throughout their campaign, winning eight and drawing four of the 12-match programme, to finish with 28 points.
Princes Town remained on 17 points after being stopped 1-0 by Vessigny, after a Karym Balthazar strike. Vessigny are now fourth with 16 points with two games remaining.
In the final South match, Moruga best Fyzabad 2-1 to record their first victory of the season. Jesse Edwards scored his fourth goal of the season and Keston Bacchus had the winner, while Bevon Bass netted "Fyzo's" lone item.
Mucurapo take North Zone lead.
By: Kern De Freitas.[/size]
Fatima College were given a lifeline even as they lost the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) North Zone leadership to Mucurapo Senior Comprehensive, who drubbed QRC 4-0 at QRC's St Clair Avenue ground last evening.
A disciplinary committee ruled yesterday that last Thursday's contest between the Royalians and Fatima, which was blown off five minutes from the end after a free kick dispute turned ill-tempered, has to be replayed on Saturday.
This decision means that Fatima have a second chance to boost their goal difference in the meeting at QRC ground.
And as a result of their win by a four-goal advantage, Mucurapo now lead the North standings for the first time this season, by three points with 27 and a three-goal advantage on goal difference.
Mucurapo travelled to QRC with full points and a hefty margin of victory in mind, but found themselves evenly matched in the first half of the opening period. In fact, the first attacking moves were made by QRC, but Kisean Worrell and Keron Doldron both shot wide of Mucurapo 'keeper Denzil Cazabon's post.
In the seventh minute, QRC custodian Jesse Fullerton, national under-15 'keeper and skipper at the regional tournament earlier this year, conceded a penalty with a tackle on Khaleem Highland. But he made amends, diving to his left and punching Richard Roy's kick wide to keep the scores level at 0-0.
But Highland made sure Mucurapo got a 1-0 lead, which they took to the interval, when he spanked home from long range in the 31st minute.
QRC's best chance of the half came four minutes earlier, when Worrell's left side volley rocked Cazabon's crossbar.
The match looked to have lost momentum in the second half, which started rather slowly, yet, Mucurapo still managed to get the odd brilliant save out of Fullerton.
But second half substitute Al Mohammed changed all that, finding himself unmarked in a great position to head home a cross in the 69th.
Two minutes later, Mohammed put the result beyond doubt, knocking home the rebound of a Fullerton save after an initial clearance off the line by a defender for a 3-0 scoreline.
In the 78th minute, Atullah Guerra sparked jubilant celebrations by Mucurapo supporters with the final goal of the game. His initial shot in the six-metre box was stopped by Fullerton, but he side-stepped the goalie with the rebound and knocked home.
St George’s footballers suspended for no-show.
T&T Newsday Reports.[/size]
Presentation College of Chaguanas retained the Central Zone trophy while San Juan captured the East Zone crown in the British Gas Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) yesterday.
In the first match of a double-header at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, Presentation trounced Union Claxton Bay 5-0 courtesy of a pair from Marvin Manswell and one each from Dion Lewis, Trent Lougheed and William Henry.
Carapichaima finished in second spot after they got past hosts Chaguanas 4-3 with goals from Keron Smith, Michael Renaud, Jamal Wiggins and Michael Bedassie. No score was available, up to press time, between Marabella and Tabaquite in the other fixture at the Ato Boldon Stadium. San Juan’s 100-percent record ended when they were held to a 2-2 draw at home to the "Blue Thunder" El Dorado.
Akil Harley and Kadeem Gibbs found the back of the net for San Juan in the second half, after first half items from Dwight Critchlow and Keston Henry for the visitors.
Malabar were held to a 2-2 draw by the "Dial Dynamos" Arima at the Larry Gomes Stadium in Arima while, for the third straight match, St George’s defaulted a contest, this time at home to Hillview.
As a result of their consistent no-show, as well as their struggles to field a team this season, the League decided yesterday to suspend St George’s for the rest of the 2005 season.
The North Zone will be decided tomorrow, with Mucurapo reclaiming top spot after a 4-0 hammering of QRC at the QRC Ground.
Khaleem Hyland’s long-range effort in the 30th opened the scoring for the visitors before Tyrone Charles added a double, in the 69th and 71st, and Attulah Guerra completed the rout in the 78th. Mucurapo and Fatima have 27 points apiece, but Mucurapo have a better goal difference over their neighbours.
The "Westmoorings Tigers" St Anthony’s edged St Mary’s 3-2 at the St Anthony’s Ground, Westmoorings while Malick strolled past Tranquillity 4-0 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo, with Randy Castillo, Keron Ross, Darnel Martin and Jamil Charles on target. Naparima ended their victorious campaign in the South Zone on a winning note, following a 3-1 triumph over Mayaro at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella.
Moruga earned their first win of the season, edging Fyzabad 2-1 at Moruga while Kareem Balthazar notched the winner as Vessigny pipped hosts Princes Town 1-0. Only one match was contested in the sister isle Tobago, with Scarborough mauling Roxborough 12-2 at Roxborough. The other match-up between Signal Hill and Bishop’s was cancelled.