Saints edge Tigers for North Intercol crown

SWEET VICTORY: St Mary's College football players celebrate after defeating St Anthony's College 1-0 at the Coca Cola North Zone Intercol final at the Hasely Crawford Stadium yesterday.
SWEET VICTORY: St Mary's College football players celebrate after defeating St Anthony's College 1-0 at the Coca Cola North Zone Intercol final at the Hasely Crawford Stadium yesterday.

Tyrese Spicer’s blistering left-footed strike found the back of the net in the 90th minute to give St Mary’s a 1-0 win over St Anthony’s in the Coca Cola North Zone final at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo.

Spicer raced behind two defenders to collect a ball from the middle and, from the edge of the penalty area, unleashed a powerful shot which flew past the outstretched right hand of goalkeeper Jabari Brice and into the back of the net.

In a post-game interview, Spicer said, “I can’t explain this feeling. I’ll like to thank God and my teammates for everything they have done.”

St Mary’s coach Ryan Shim acknowledged that the players were keen to claim the crown, after they finished 6th in the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Premier Division title.

“Everybody on the team was gearing up for this match,” said Shim. “We played some good defensive football and we were ready for (the game).”

And indeed it was a hard-fought game with few clear-cut chances for either team.

St Mary’s footballers pose with the Coca Cola North Intercol trophy yesterday after beating St Anthony’s 1-0 in the final at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo.

St Anthony’s striker Jaydon Prowell mistimed his jump and failed to keep down his headed chance, from a Che Benny freekick, in the 18th, and a minute later, Spicer collected a through ball from Gabriel Nanton but shot straight at Brice.

Benny forced St Mary’s goalie Regaleo Holder to produce a magnificent save from his 66th minute freekick, and Spicer’s left-footed effort was parried by Brice in the 73rd.

Prowell had a good chance to put the “Westmoorings Tigers” ahead in the 87th, with a left-footed shot which was denied by the “Saints” goalie, and that miss proved costly as Spicer atoned for his earlier errors with a clinical finish.

Over in the sister isle, Signal Hill retained the Tobago Zone Intercol crown after defeating Speyside 1-0 at the Black Rock Recreation Ground, Courland. Jalanie James struck in the first half to guarantee Signal Hill’s passage to the National Intercol competition (featuring the five Zonal winners), which will get going next week.

Today, the focus will be on the East Zone Intercol category, with San Juan North opposing Valencia High in the final, from 3.30 pm, at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Arima.

The last Zonal Intercol final will be contested tomorrow with Shiva Boys facing Naparima from 3.30 pm at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella.

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"Saints edge Tigers for North Intercol crown"

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