Keron Bethelmy netted a pair of goals to help El Dorado East Secondary cause a major upset in the East Zone, defeating St Augustine 3-0, yesterday.
It is the first loss of the season for the defending national and zonal champion and coach Michael Grayson did not have much to say about the loss, other than “We didn’t play well at all.” Shaquille opened the scoring in the seventh minute.
The score remained that way with “El Do” with a 1-0 at the half. Bethelmy got his first item in the 70th minute from a free kick.
He returned 18 minutes later to net his second and give his team a 3-0 lead whcih they held on to till the end. The victory earned the “Blue Thunder” the top spot in the zone by a narrow one-point margin.
Thomas rescues Signal Hill
Raphael Thomas scored with two minutes left in the match to rescue a 2-2 draw for reigning Tobago Zone champion, Signal Hill in its top-of-the-table clash with Scarborough Secondary at the Dwight Yorke Stadium, Bacolet.
Scarborough, which trailed Signal Hill on goal difference at the start of the day took a 2-0 lead into the half, thanks to a double from Christopher Morgan, in the fifth and 17th minute.
However, on the resumption, Signal Hill stepped up its play and sliced the lead in the half through Antonio Nelson in the 71st minute before Thomas broke Scarborough’s hearts with his 88th minute equaliser which left both teams level at the top with ten points at the end of the first round.
In the late match, Speyside and Pentecostal Light & Light, faced off with both teams still in search of its first point.
P’ville blanks Naps as Pres regains lead
Keon Thomas and Ken Khan got a goal each as Pleasantville blanked defending champion Naparima 2-0 in the first match of a double-header at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella.
In the second match, Presentation edged St Benedict’s 1-0 to regain top spot in the zone while Vessigny also won 1-0 over Princes Town West.
Couva, Caps stay out front
Central Zone leader Couva West Secondary needed a 60th-minute goal from Jevon Sandiford to secure a 2-1 win over Tabaquite at Tabaquite.
Carapichaima, one of only two remaining teams in the league with a 100 per cent winning record battled past Presentation College of Chaguanas 3-2 at Presentation while Gasparillo trounced Waterloo 3-0.
Results
South Zone:
Pleasantville 2 (Keon Thomas, Ken Khan) vs Naparima 0
Vessigny 1 (Rondell Phillip 74th) vs Princes Town West 0
Presentation 2 vs St Benedict’s 0
Central Zone:
Gasparillo 3 (Lennard Thomas, Trifon Browne, Anderson St Clair) vs Waterloo 0
Couva West 2(Jesse Bharose o.g 6th, Jevon Sandiford 60th) vs Tabaquite 1 (Travis Singh 30th)
Carapichaima East 3 (Kern Alexis 33rd, 55th, Shaqueel Holder 40th) vs Presentation 2 (Kern Alexander 7th pen, Nicholai Modray 50th).
Tobago Zone:
Signal Hill 2 (Antonio Nelson 71st, Raphael Thomas 88th) vs Scarborough 2 (Christopher Morgan 5th, 17th).
East Zone
Toco 3 (Keron Khan 3) vs Barataria 3 (Shondell Felix, Gelani Carr, Atiba Cudjoe).
St Augustine 0 vs El Dorado 3 (Shaquille Bertrand 7th, Keron Bethelmy 70th, 88th).
San Juan 0 vs Arima 2 (Marcus Gomez 10th, Darius Rollings 65th).
‘Tigers’ remain perfect.
By Andrew Gioannetti (Guardian).
Thulani George won the match for St Anthony’s in a tight 2–1 encounter against St Mary’s in the BGTT First Citizens Secondary Schools Football League at St Mary’s Ground, Serpentine Road, yesterday.
The “Tigers” seemed to be dropping their first points of the season until some clever footwork from George in the 89th minute, saw the attacker skip past Keigh-Ron Joncilla in defence and the substitute goalkeeper for St Mary’s, Christian Attong, before finishing from a tight angle.
After a goalless first half, Darryl Trim opened the scoring for the visitors when he received a through ball in which his connection saw the ball slip under the starting goalkeeper for the “Saints” Raheem “Birdie” Belgrave to score.
The goal saw Belgrave leave the pitch with an injury to his arm in his attempt to keep the ball out the net.
St Mary’s responded with a free-kick from captain Kyle Beggs just outside of the box which was connected by Jamal Francis whose neat backward header leveled the scores.
St Anthony’s winner, which was scored moments before injury time silenced the home support, which included the St Mary’s rhythm section.
The win put St Anthony’s comfortably in the lead on 21 points from the seven matches. In other matches in the zone, second place East Mucurapo were 3–2 winners over QRC while Fatima defeated Trinity 1–0.
Results
St Mary’s College 1 (Jamel Francis) vs St Anthony’s 1 (Darryl Trim)
East Mucurapo 3 (Akil Campbell, Kevin Williams, Akil Thomas) vs QRC 2 (Jerron Blugh, Jayon Murray)
Fatima 1 (Kye West 17th) vs Trinity 0
Signal Hill, Scarborough draw.
By Kern De Freitas (Express).
Defending Tobago Zone champions Signal Hill Secondary recovered from a very poor first half to draw 2-2 with Scarborough Secondary yesterday and re-take the lead in BG T&T/First Citizens Secondary Schools Football League action.
At the Dwight Yorke Stadium, Bacolet, Christopher Morgan registered two first half goals to put Scarborough in front; but the sides switched roles in the second half, with Signal Hill on the offensive and Scarborough defending nervously. In the end, it was a deserving and perhaps satisfactory scoreline for both teams.
Antonio Nelson and Raphael Thomas hit net in the second half to spare the InterCol champs' blushes.
For most of the first half, Signal Hill looked at sea, with coach Bertille St Clair sitting quietly in the stands watching on with his intense poker stare.
He would have seen Scarborough enjoyed most of the attacking action. In midfield they were a bit ordinary, but looked a much different outfit on the counter-attack. In fact, Signal Hill found it difficult to cope with those attacks, and that, as well as some casual play in the middle of the pitch, gave Scarborough an easy time.
In the 17th minute, Morgan got Scarborough's second, this time. Akiel Guy turning provider. He attempted to change the play with a cross to Nelson on the left flank; Morgan spotted the move and out-hustled his opponent for the air ball, streaking down the line for a quick one-two with Kiel O'Neil, before slipping the ball through the legs of onrushing goalkeeper Learie McKenzie. The Signal Hill defenders could only watch in horror as the ball trickled in, just beyond them.
Scarborough could have been four or five goals up by the break, but the two Morgans, Christopher and Christon, missed the target, and one shot from O'Neil from prime position was too wayward, so it remained 2-0 at the break.
Signal Hill returned with intent and produced the first attack of the second half, a curling effort from Akiel Guy that forced a one-handed save from Scarborough goalie Keemo Gardner, even though it might have just cleared the "vee".
And Nariel Wilson missed a golden chance after a dangerous run as he scoffed the final shot.
The Signal Hill rhythm section, which had been non-existent in the first half, blared Machel Montano's "Ah Coming Again" as cheerleaders screamed in an attempt to spur on their team.
But Morgan was a constant thorn on the counter-attack, and Kevorn Kent was forced to bring him down and collect a yellow card as the speedy midfielder rushed towards the penalty area.
Sustained pressure gave Signal Hill a lifeline and Nelson redeemed himself for his earlier mistake, bundling home a loose ball in the 71st after a mix-up in the Scarborough defence.
But Thomas, who had been invisible for most of the 90 regulation minutes, stabbed home to give Signal Hill a share of the points and a narrow lead on goals scored in the standings.
YESTERDAY'S SSFL RESULTS:
North Zone
East Mucurapo Secondary 3 v Queen's Royal College 2
Fatima College 1 v Trinity College 0
St Mary's College 1 v St Anthon's College 2 (Darryl Trim-52nd, Thalani George-89th)
East Zone
El Dorado East Sec 3 (Shaquille Bertrand - 7th; Keron Bethelmy - 70th & 88th) v St Augustine Sec 0
San Juan North 2 (Marcus Gomez, Darius Rollins) v Arima North Sec 0
South Zone
Vessigny 1 (Al Phillips) v Princes Town West Sec 0
Pleasantville 2 v Naparima 0
Central Zone
Gasparillo Sec 3 v Waterloo Sec 0
Tabaquite Sec 1 v Couva West Sec 2
Carapichaima Secondary 3 (Kern Alexis - 33rd & 55th); Shaquille Holder-45th) v Presentation College 2 (Keron Alexander - 7th penalty; Nicholas Madre - 50th)
Tobago Zone
Signal Hill 2 v Scarborough 2
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