Sorry , ah thief this report from schoolsoccernet.com , but better ah post it than nothing ..
Saturday 14th October, 2006
In what can only be described as an absolute classic encounter, Naparima College needed penalty kicks to defeat Presentation College San Fernando and win the 2006 Val Turton/Carl Osborne Memorial Trophy at Mannie Ramjohn Stadium on Saturday.
The atmosphere was electric; both the Naparima and Princes Town rhythm sections played and sang their hearts out in what can safely be described as the best showing of school spirit and support for the entire 2006 football season. The crowd was by far the biggest to attend a schools football match for the year, and the players from both teams gave a display of grit, determination and heart that the respective teams’ coaches and principals should be proud of.
At stake was the coveted Val Turton/Carl Osborne Memorial Trophy and also valuable league points. Leading up to the game, Naparima College was only one of two teams that have been perfect this season, boasting a record of seven wins in as many matches. ‘Pres’ was trying to keep pace with the league leaders, whom they trailed by only two points. A ‘Pres’ win would seem them leapfrog ‘Naps’ into first place, whilst a defeat would all but end their South Zone title aspirations.
The game started off at a frantic pace, with both teams wanting to score that early goal.
‘Naps’ signaled their intentions early, and should have found themselves a goal up when Javed Mohammed broke free on the left and slipped the ball past an advancing Akini Adams in the ‘Pres’ goal, but also wide of the right post.
Whilst ‘Naps’ enjoyed the lion’s share of ball possession in the early going, it was ‘Pres’ who looked the more dangerous in attack. Prolific ‘Pres’ forward Derwyn Lee was marshaled every step of the way in an obvious tactical adjustment made by wily Shawn Cooper, but it was midfielder Shahdon Winchester that took a shot from an incredible 30 yards out which crashed against the ‘Naps’ upright. Immediately after the scare, ‘Naps’ created their best opportunity of the half when Renato Ramlochan broke free on the right, cut into the ‘Pres’ goal area and fired his right footed attempt just wide of the left post. The action continued on both sides of the pitch, but at the half, neither team could break the deadlock.
The second half continued at the same breath taking pace as the first, and it was ‘Naps’ who eventually took the lead in the 55th minute, when Cion Samuel played a beauty of a pass to split the ‘Pres’ defense and onto the foot of Anthony Parris, who collect well and slipped the ball past the goalkeeper much to the delight of the Naparima fans.
‘Pres’ began to press for the equalizer and Lee began to drop back deeper in an attempt to draw the ‘Naps’ defenders out of position. The ‘Pres’ pressure final bore fruit in the 71st minute, as a right sided corner Akeem Marshall Corner was flicked onto the far post where an alert an unmarked Lee headed into the net.
Things got worse of ‘Naps’ as in a moment of madness as Nigel Wright, whom was booked seconds earlier, kicked away the ball in disgust and was promptly shown the red card by the referee. Incredibly, Coach Carter did not withdraw one of his strikers, instead he continued to urged his team to attack. ‘Pres’ introduced the skillful Robert Als into the game to try and inject some creativity into the midfield.
At the end of regulation, the scores remained tied. This result meant that both teams split the points for the league, but there was still the matter of the Memorial trophy to be decided.
In the first half of regulation, ‘Pres’ would have scored the game winning goal had it not been for the heroics of Curtis Julien in goal. Julien somehow got his foot onto a blast from Stephen Campbell who was less than 10 yards from the goal.
‘Naps’ did also create some goal scoring opportunities, and never looked as though they were reduced to 10 men.
At the end of extra time, the scores remained tied and the dreaded penalty kicks loomed.
The drama reached fever pitch, and it looked as though the combination of pressure and fatigue took its toll on the players, as both teams missed their first two penalties. In the end though, it was the penalties from Dinakar Jimdar, Javed Mohammed and the winner by Renato Ramlochan that overcame the kick scored by Arvid Applewhite to give ‘Naps’ the victory in a game that has to go down in history as one of the most epic battles in South Zone football.
Good game..
