Presentation College, San Fernando, made crucial strides up the 17-team standings in the Sports Company of Trinidad and Tobago (SporTT) Boys Premiership Division of the Secondary Schools Football League with a 1-0 triumph over Queen’s Royal College (QRC) at Serpentine Road, St Clair, Port-of-Spain, Saturday (October 31).
The result means the Royalians are now flirting with demotion with three rounds of matches to play.
Their inability to convert attack into goals in the final third continued to haunt the Royalians, who have now entered the danger zone ahead of tough encounters against St Anthony’s in Westmoorings, Hillview College at Honeymoon Park in El Dorado, and Arima North at the Arima Velodrome.
Coach Kenwyne Jones’ lads fell behind early in the opening half after a hand ball in the 15th minute sent Aden Sinanan-McDonald to the penalty spot, where he made no mistake, drilling the ball into the back of the net for the lead.
Midway through the half, the Southerners attempted to return the generosity courtesy of a similar hand ball in the "Pres" penalty area, which placed Jahseem Pierre on the penalty spot nine minutes after the initial penalty. Pierre, though, could not make it count, as goalkeeper Marcelo Phillip came up with a big save to deny the home team.
The penalties summarised the major action of the first half, but even in front of an almost muted home crowd, the Royalians were relatively reserved and posed no real threat to the Presentation goal area. In fact, the visitors should have capitalised on a golden opportunity after a midfield build-up was released to an unmarked Josiah Stewart wide on the right.
Stewart, though, after a touch that put him through on goal, hit the ball into the side netting with the goal at his mercy in the 63rd minute.
QRC’s attacks came in spurts. However, they would count themselves unlucky in the 79th minute when striker Samson Williams latched onto a cross from the right by Neomiah Thompson, only to see his header pushed wide by the goalkeeper.
From the resulting corner on the left, the ball fell invitingly for Williams a second time, but he could not direct it on target. With the result, the Royalians stayed on 12 points while the Southerners moved to 27 points in the upper half of the standings.
Meanwhile, despite the inaction of St Mary’s College yesterday, they maintained top spot in the standings with 33 points. Speyside’s 2-1 upset of Signal Hill stalled Signal Hill from taking over the top position.
Saturday's results
Hillview 3 (Jaylen Hinds 6th, Jahmarley Ellis 23rd, Tafari Kerr 35th) vs St Augustine 1 (Luke Eccles 21st)
Malick 1 (Keisean Spence 24th) vs St Anthony’s 2 (Jaquan Phillip og 10th, Diquan Williams 67th)
Mucurapo West 0 vs Naparima 6 (Adasa Richardson 33rd, Immanuel Wright 39th, 64th, Jacon O'Reilly 59th, Elijah Edwards 83rd, Jaeden Anthony 90+2' (P)
QRC 0 vs Presentation 1 (Aden Sinanan-McDonald)
San Juan North 1 (David O’Brien 41st) vs Arima North 1 (Romario Alexander 28th)
St Benedict’s College 3 ( Jaylon Forbes 13th, 28th, Ahkioh Medford 68th) vs Trinity College East 0
Trinity College Moka 2 (Israel Wickham 27th, Kevez Quintero 66th) vs Fatima College 2 (Daquan Jackman 88th, Jahaem Bailey 90+1)
Speyside 2 (Tevez Smith 31st, J’Quan 85th) vs Signal Hill 1 (Ackim Duncan 75th)
Latest SSFL Standings
Pos*Teams*P*W*D*L*GF*GA*GD*Pts
1. St Mary’s*13*10*3*0*32*8*24*33
2. Naparima*13*10*1*2*42*10*32*31
3. Signal Hill*14*10*1*3*32*14*18*31
4. St Benedict’s*15*8*4*3*32*13*19*28
6. Presentation*13*8*3*2*27*12*15*27
5. Fatima*13*7*5*1*38*18*20*26
7. Hillview*13*7*2*4*39*23*16*23
8. Arima North*13*6*1*6*27*27*0*19
9. Speyside*14*6*1*7*21*36*-15*19
10. St Anthony’s*13*5*3*5*23*24*-1*18
11. Malick*13*4*1*8*29*33*-4*13
12. QRC*13*3*3*7*13*19*-6*12
13. San Juan North*13*3*1*9*16*29*-13*10
16. Trinity Moka*13*2*3*8*23*46*-23*9
15. St Augustine*13*2*2*9*18*42*-24*8
14. Mucurapo West*14*2*2*10*14*39*-25*8
17. Trinity East*14*1*2*11*14*49*-35*5
