Source
Trinidad Express
Causing trouble: Mucurapo Senior Comprehensive hero Muntar Taylor, second from right, causes anxiety for his Trinity College opponents during yesterday's decisive rescheduled Secondary Schools Football League North Zone encounter at Moka, Maraval. Taylor eventually earned a 2-2 draw for Mucurapo which was enough to give them the zonal title on goal difference. - Photo: Curtis Chase
There was mas in the mud at Moka yesterday.
No draw in all of the BG T&T Secondary Schools Football League this season brought as much celebration out of two teams as yesterday's 2-2 battle royale between Mucurapo Senior Comprehensive and Trinity College.
Players, staff, teachers and student supporters were all caught up in the moment minutes after Mucurapo's Mutar Taylor slotted a 90th minute equaliser past Trinity custodian Zane Coker to earn the really hard way the precious point his side needed to clinch this year's North Zone title and a place in the Big Five national playoffs.
Taylor's and Compre's moment in the dusk, however, had to be shared with Mikhail Walters-Dindial and his Trinity posse.
The nimble left-flanker's double also ensured that Trinity won yet another battle for survival in the Championship Division.
With one outstanding game still to be played against last season's champions St Anthony's College, Trinity (eight points) have put themselves an unassailable point clear of cellar-placed Malick Secondary Comprehensive, who have completed their league campaign.
And for the first time since attaining Championship Division status, the Morvant school, with a record six national League titles, will be relegated.
Relief and ecstasy, not despair however, would have been the only emotion in the Mucurapo camp yesterday evening.
Mucurapoo's fourth North Zone triumph in five seasons was achieved on superior goal difference with drama and against the odds.
The zone's front-runners had to claw their way back from two goals down against an inspired and equally desperate Trinity on a surface that was espcially difficult.
Hardly bone dry at the best of times, Moka was a muddy bog following afternoon rain. Not at all did it suit the short-passing, skilfull Compre game. And for most of the match, the boys in maroon struggled to come to terms with opponents who were sturdy in the tackle and won the majority of the 50-50 balls.
And in Walters-Dindial, Trinity seemed to have the match-winner. On either side of half time-in the 39th and 57th minutes-he put his side on survival road.
First, he put away the rebound from his initial shot-saved by goalkeeper Michael Duff- following a cross from Jamal Burke. That he got the chance at all was due to his side twice winning back the ball off their opponents.
The slender Walters-Dindial seemed to be both his side's creative spark and most lethal weapon.
He proved to be such in the second period when fed the ball on the left side just outside the penalty area. Cutting inside, his sharp movement wrong-footed a Mucurapo defender who went sliding out of the play, opening up the way for Walters-Dindial's firm drive which beat leaping Compre keeper Michael Duff and struck the roof of the net.
At this stage, the title seemed to be headed to the Fatima College side of Mucurapo Road. Two goals for a draw seemed as elusive for Mucurapo as the wisps of clouds in the surrounding valley.
And the score could well, should well have been 3-0 but for Trinity substitute Joel Carasquero's hitting straight at keeper Duff when he had more than enough time to pick his spot.
That was perhaps the moment on which the championship race turned. Shortly after in the 83rd minute, Trinity got loose at the back and a low right-side cross eluded goalie Coker but not a grateful Terrence Clarke- 2-1.
The goal roused the visitors and their travelling support.
"One more Compre, one more!" insisted Clarke and company's vocal teachers.
Chances at both ends came in a rush. But Trinity still seemed capable enough to hold out for the win. With injury-time beckoning, though, Trinity skipper Brian Andrews misplaced a pass in midfield and Mucurapo started a counter-attack, the end result of which was a clinical finish from Taylor on the right side of the six-metre box.
"Composure!" shouted his elated relatives.
It was composure that was worth its weight in silverware.
