Hillview upset 'Green Machine'
By Mark Pouchet (Trinidad Express)
Defending East Zone champions St Augustine Secondary are still without a win after underdogs Hillview College upset them 3-2 at their home ground on Warren Street yesterday.
It was the surprise result of the three matches that were played in the BG T&T Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) East Zone as San Juan became the unexpected and early zonal leaders with their second win in as many games.
The other matches went according to expectations, with El Dorado Senior Comprehensive defeating rivals Arima Senior Comprehensive 2-0 at the Blue Thunder's ground, while at the Larry Gomes Stadium in Malabar, San Juan Secondary edged Championship Division newcomers, Malabar Composite 2-1.
At Warren Street, "Gustine" twice came from behind to equalise after Stefon George had put the visitors in front and an own goal re-asserted their advantage.
Shastri Spencer scored from the penalty spot, while Lorenzo King levelled for the Green Machine. But a controversial 88th minute penalty was converted by Hillview to seal the win for the improbable victors.
At El Dorado, the hosts were able to adapt to the uneven, dusty, hard track that sloped downward North to South to make sure the Dial Dynamos would not come away with a point.
To be fair, the first half was marked by jumbled play with both teams finding it difficult to string together more than three passes in a row.
It was no surprise then that there was no goal to show, although Juron Sanderson for Arima and Jamal Gay for Eldo had two good close-range opportunities which the first blasted overbars, while the other scuffed a harmless shot to Arima keeper Ita Charles.
However, coach Trevor Spicer got his team to use the flanks more in the second period. And it paid immediate dividends.
Captain Keston "Zico" Henry first benefitted from a darting run from the right by striker Dwight Crichlow, who squared the ball past Charles for Henry to blast into the roof of the net after 53 minutes.
Then five minutes later Eldo's Israel Agana laid off for him in the box which Henry took with aplomb, hitting the sphere sweetly on the half-volley to bury the ball to Charles right.
After that ElDo dominated as Arima unsuccessfully attempted to force their way down the middle of the field.
They were lucky not to go further behind under a barrage of attacks from Eldo. But the main reason for their loss was their inability to adapt to the prevailing conditions.
