East Mucurapo climbed one spot up the standings in the Premiership Division of the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) to fourth after a solitary goal by Jaheim Patrick, as early as the second minute earn them a victory over San Juan North Secondary at Fatima College Ground on Wednesday.
However, Naparima College maintained their grip at the top of the standings following a 3-0 victory over Trinity College East at the team's Lewis Street home in San Fernando. The dangerous Seon Shippley was again on target for the southerners, along with goals from Jaden Mc Cree and Tyrike Andrews which took them to 17 points.
The Dale Saunders-led Mucurapo has now gone two-game unbeaten, since the 3-0 drubbing by Presentation College San Fernando at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella back on September 25.
Despite San Juan's growing confidence which stemmed from victories against Queen's Royal College (QRC) and Trinity Moka, the team had to settle on the day, to a more ambitious East Mucurapo outfit troubled the San Juan defence almost anytime they moved forward.
San Juan defence was hardly settled when a ball bounced awkwardly in its centre, and Patrick fired a thunderous shot that pitched up into the roof of the net for the advantage.
San Juan received the support of their former goal-scoring machine Marvin Oliver, who went on to play football in the United States back in the 1990s, but it could not prevent them from going down in the encounter.
East Mucurapo was unlucky not to extend its lead in the 29th minute. Jelani Ferari stormed down the right flank and delivered a pin-point cross Patrick in front a gaping goal. But the latter, under pressure from the opposing defenders, went down without offering an attempt at the goal.
San Juan had chances of their own in the exchanges, but it was Christon Mitchell who came the closest to scoring. The slender built midfielder picked up a loose ball on the right side, and with the defenders, Cecil Young and Delaney Zamore caught flat-footed in front him, the speedy Mitchell changed pace as he raced into the goal area. But he, however, spooned his attempt over the post, when it looked like an equalizer was certain.
At QRC Ground, Jaheim Granderson got an appropriate birthday gift from goal to guide the home team to a 1-0 victory over arch-rivals St Mary's College 1-0.
But the scoreline was not a proper reflection of the actual game, as the home team squandered many opportunities that could prove to be crucial later on in the tournament.
At Moka, Maraval, the unbeaten Carapichaima Secondary produced a commanding performance that earned them a convincing 3-0 triumph over Trinity College Moka.
Captain and national under-15 defender Jaron Pascal was steady in the backline, allowing Josiah Henry and Malik Robinson the freedom and comfort to score for the central giants.
Pascal also overlapped in the 38th minute to be among the goalscorers in his team's winning effort.
However, the shocker of the day came at St Augustine Ground, where the home team hammered visitors Malick Secondary 5-0, for their first win of the tournament.
WEDNESDAY'S RESULTS
Trinity Moka 1 vs Carapichaima 3 (Malik Robinson, Josiah Henry, Jaron Pascal)
St Augustine 5 vs Malick 1
Speyside 2 vs Presentation 2
East Mucurapo 1 (Jaheim Patrick) vs San Juan 0
St Benedict's 1 vs St Anthony's 2
QRC 1 (Jaheim Granderson) vs St Mary's 0
Naparima 3 (Jaden Mc Cree, Tyrike Andrews, Seon Shippley) vs Trinity East 0
LATEST STANDINGS
Teams*P*W*L*D*GF*GA*GD*PTS
1*Naparima College*7*4*0*2*18*7*+11*17
2*St. Anthony’s College*6*5*0*1*20*5*+15*16
3*Cara East Secondary*6*4*0*2*11*5*+6*14
4*Presentation College*6*4*1*1*19*4*+15*13
5*East Mucurapo Secondary*6*3*1*2*12*6*+6*11
6*Malick Secondary*7*3*3*1*13*13*0*9
7*Queen’s Royal College*6*3*3*0*9*15*-6*9
8*Speyside High School*6*2*2*2*9*18*-9*8
9*San Juan North Secondary*6*2*3*1*11*5*+6*7
10*St. Augustine Secondary*7*1*2*4*14*13*1*7
11*Pleasantville Secondary*6*2*3*1*8*9*-1*7
12*Trinity College East*7*1*4*2*7*14*-7*5
13*St. Mary’s College*7*1*5*1*5*15*-10*4
14*Trinity College, Moka*7*1*5*1*6*24*-18*4
15*St. Benedict’s College*6*1*4*1*6*15*-9*3