Pres cops Big-Five title, St Augustine takes girls’ equivalent.
By Andrew Gioannetti (Guardian).A disputable own goal from reliable St Mary’s College goalkeeper Christian Attong moments left in regulation time, determined the outcome of what was an evenly contested BGTT First Citizens Secondary Schools Football League Big-Five final, which went in the way of a 2-1 victory for Presentation College of San Fernando, yesterday.
The Lions of South, which lost the Big-Five final last year, made their efforts count on this occasion but it came to the despair of St Mary’s College, which saw four members of its coaching and managerial staff sent off for protesting what looked like a ghost goal.
The second match of a double-header at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, followed a less intense but classy 1-0 win for St Augustine Secondary over Bishop’s High of Tobago, through a goal from Naiomee Guerra.
The second match, which too was of high quality for the most part, closed in less desirable fashion.
The Saints custodian, Attong, whose handling of the ball had been almost flawless throughout the course of the match, was on the receiving end of a barge by Presentation College of San Fernando forward Shackiel Henry close to the goal-line, with roughly five minutes remaining in the fixture, and while no appeals were seen from the Presentation College players for a goal as Attong seemed to be on his line, the referee took a look across to his assistant, who instead of awarding Attong a foul, judged the event as an own-goal.
The match took a halt as officials of St Mary’s College protested in unison, questioning both the referee and his assistant. They, including a furious head coach Jason Edwards and assistant Ryan Shim, were sent to the stands.
The end of the fixture brought jubilation to the hundreds of Presentation supporters, but it also brought a flock of players and football staff of St Mary’s to the faces of the referees, prompting police action. One police officer pulled out a baton, while a St Mary’s player questioned the official.
The sour incident did injustice to what was a keen contest played between the two schools. Neither team outclassed the other. Even as Presentation opened the scoring with a deserved goal in the 47th minute from a headed effort by Jared Gordon from close range, St Mary’s never lost confidence.
The Saints responded in the 58th minute from a penalty from Rashad Hyacinth, after Pres defender Makeem Huggins clattered into Chinua Bernard, whose back was turned to goal.
“Pres” enjoyed better possession during some spells of the first half, but its most influential players including Henry and midfielder Angel Williams, were not as effective as they have been throughout the season.
St Mary’s had the earliest opportunity to take the lead in the 11th minute when Bernard connected with a Sebastien Cabral headed pass but the striker’s volley in the box edged above the crossbar. However, in the 27th minute, Presentation came even closer to a goal, when a shot from the edge of the penalty box from Yohance Alexander rocked the crossbar, before Attong held onto the rebound.
Presentation had another sight on goal with an effort from Jared Gordon with 10 minutes left in the first half, but the midfielder’s shot was softened by Saints captain Myles Yorke, who brilliantly marshalled his defense throughout the encounter.
The second half brought more daring efforts from both sides, which had to settle on a thick stadium surface. The ball moved slowly and players from both teams had to play more aerial balls to create chances.
The opening two goals came from set plays, and the final goal, from a direct cross, which seemed to be safely handled by Attong. The Saints attempted to push forward once again, following the controversial incident, but it was Presentation’s day. The team won its first national league title, while CIC’s drought for the same trophy will extend to 23 years.
It is the second Big-Five match which has stirred controversy. Presentation College, was not supposed to play Carapichaima East in the semifinal which it won 3-0. The Central Zone league title was won by Chaguanas North Secondary, which received a letter the day before the Big Five semifinal stating that it was deducted nine points for the alleged fielding of ineligible players.
However, the letter was sent by the credentials committee, which does not have the jurisdiction to make a judgment. The disciplinary committee is the body required to make such a judgment. The SSFL later acknowledged its error.
Pres rule Big 5
...Final ends on a sour note as Saints protest
By Kern De Freitas (Express).Presentation College San Fernando sent St Mary’s College marching home yesterday--without the BGT&T/First Citizens Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) “Big Five” trophy--after a 2-1 defeat of the North Zone champs.
The contest provided just what it promised: lots of action on the field, and added a bit off it as well, but “Pres” left Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva with all the smiles and the title.
Coach Jason Edwards was anything but smiling in the 85th minute when he and most of the St Mary’s technical team were ejected by referee Ruthven Harris after what turned out to be the decisive goal, once “Saints” goalkeeper Christian Attong was adjudged to have walked the ball into his net trying to avoid Pres striker Shackiel Henry’s challenge.
An infuriated Edwards returned after the final whistle to further remonstrate with Harris as he went down the tunnel under police escort.
The scene distracted no Pres fan from celebrating victory in honour of ailing Akeem Adams, a former Pres player, who suffered a massive heart attack in Hungary and also had his leg amputated to save his life.
Before the incident, the teams were locked in a fierce battle after second half goals left them locked at 1-1.
They got to that point after Presentation came roaring from the dressing room and scored the first goal of the match, fittingly from a set play.
Pres had threatened from corners and free kicks because of their height advantage, and finally succeeded when Angel Williams floated a free kick onto the head of Jared Gordon, whose nod defeated Attong on the bounce.
It sent the energy levels a notch up on the field as Pres piled on the raids, and St Mary’s were forced to withstand the onslaught.
Once they settled, the Saints were back to their bustling football, and crisp passing and movement, trying to unlock the Pres defence.
The South Zone winners obliged, Kouri Cupid bringing down Chinua Bernard in the 58th minute, before Rashad Hyacenth levelled from the spot. The see-saw duel after that threatened a tight finish, before the final twist in the match swung it Pres’s way.
The 0-0 halftime score was perhaps a fair reflection of an even first period. If anything, Pres were slightly sharper in the attacking third. But St Mary’s, true to their nature, were sound at the back.
They gave little room to Henry and Williams, the driving forces for the Presentation attack.
In terms of individual play, St Mary’s players lacked the flair of their opponents.
But the whole was definitely more than the sum of its parts, as they were well organised, an indication that Pres would have a tougher time against the Saints than their 3-0 whipping of defending Big Five champs Carapichaima East Secondary in the semis last week.
St Mary’s were steady throughout the period and warned their opponents with a blast just overbar from Bernard in the 16th, while Williams provided a fright for the Saints when he briefly slipped from the shackles of a strong defence to force Attong to punch onto the bar in the 29th with a rocket from 20 metres, before the ‘keeper pouched the rebound off Gordon.
The Saints knew they had their future in their hands when level at the break, but in one shocking late moment, fate took that away, just as Pres did the trophy.
St Augustine Secondary players and staff celebrate following their 1-0 triumph over Bishop's High of Tobago, in the final of the BGTT First Citizens Girls' Big-Four competition at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, yesterday. Photo: Anthony Harris.
