Fatima stay top of SSFL, Naps/Pres in goal-less draw

FATIMA College maintained their position atop the Secondary Schools’ Football League (SSFL) premiership division after securing a 4-2 victory over Malick Secondary on Wednesday when round 11 kicked off at Fatima Grounds in Mucurapo.

The win for Fatima, combined with favourable results from other matches, carried them to 28pts and increased the point gap between their closest rivals San Juan North Secondary and Naparima College.

Second-ranked San Juan North (25pts) lost their second match of the campaign as St Anthony’s snagged a 1-0 home victory. Despite their loss, San Juan North remain second-best in the standings.

Meanwhile, at Lewis Street Grounds in San Fernando, crosstown rivals Naparima College and Presentation College San Fernando shared the spoils with a 0-0 result.

Both teams cancelled each other out in the “southern Clasico” and Presentation’s Duhrell Young would be kicking himself, after spurning a golden chance to take the lead in the first half, courtesy a penalty kick. Young’s stuttered run-up failed and he fired over bar. The opening minutes of the first period were nervy as players tried to acclimatise to the slippery surface, in front of thousands of spectators.

The outfield contributed to Young’s penalty in the 22nd minute as “Naps” defender Antonio Hills slipped while facing charging forward Vaughn Clement. His late kick for the ball hit Clement on the pads, just inside the penalty area.

However, Young wasted his chance and shot high to the relief of Naps goalkeeper Tyrece Romain.

Two minutes later, Pres had another chance to take the lead as a long throw-in bounced in front of goal to Maliq Brathwaite, who could only tap the ball to the right, to which Romain got a hand to, and pushed out of danger.

There was little free-flowing football in the opening half despite Naps’ Tevin Panthor’s several attempts to break the Presentation back line.

In the final minutes of the first 45, Panthor’s teammate Jkwon Bailey had his long-range effort saved by Pres custodian Kanye Lazarus. Soon after, Pres’ Adah Barclay also attempted to find the back of the net from outside the box, but Romain kept tidy.

Into the second period, Naps looked better on the ball. And despite an array of attempts to get the go-ahead goal, Naparima forwards Panthor, Arron Raymond and Akeil Vesprey couldn’t break the deadlock. Both teams showed a lack of aggression in the final third.

Likewise, Naps’ defence also stood firm as eventual player of the match Josiah Cooper Jelani Calliste, Antonio Hills and Tyrel Alexander held their ground against a persistent Pres.

Into the 82nd minute, a Naps corner saw a leaping Cooper rise above his opponents and make contact with the ball. But the wet conditions saw it skid off his head, and go wide.

On the break, res’ Brathwaite put in a nice cross down the right, to the far post, but Clement could not get his head on to it.

Into time added on, Cooper again bested all in the air from another corner. This time, his headed shot was on target and moving towards the top corner, only for Lazarus to get his hands to it and force another corner.

Here, Cooper again got a touch and the ball bubbled uncontrollably in front of goal, only to be cleared, with the final whistle to follow.

The result affects both teams’ chances of lifting this year’s title since Naps (22pts) remains in third place while Pres (21pts) slipped one spot down to sixth; both with five matches remaining.

Fourth place St Benedict’s (23pts) swept CIC 5-0 (13pts) and held their position. St Anthony’s (22pts) win over San Juan North saw them climb past Pres into fifth.

In other matches, Arima North (19pts) defeated Speyside (14pts) 4-0, East Mucurapo (14pts) beat Bishops Tobago (three pts) 4-1, QRC (13pts) thumped Pleasantville Secondary (four pts) 7-1 while Trinity East (11pts) got past Chaguanas North (three pts) 4-0.