St Anthony’s cruise past QRC in SSFL opener

CHAMPIONS St Anthony’s opened their campaign in the British Gas Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) 2003 season with a convincing 2-0 win over QRC at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo, yesterday.

But Mucurapo and Fatima battled to a goalless draw in the other match of the double-header. Fielding a starting lineup of players who were among the reserves during their unbeaten and sensational 2002 season, the “Westmoorings Tigers” took a while to settle down, but when they did, they tormented the Royalians defence with a series of attacks from both flanks, as well as the middle. Goals by Christopher Sam in the 78th minute and Keon Trim in the 86th, gave the Tigers their victory yesterday. Abiola Sandy was ushered into the penalty area by a flat-footed QRC defence, but his pass to fellow winger Christian Cabral was mis-kicked in the 34th minute while, six minutes later, Trim evaded defender Sherwyn O’Brien and centred to Sam whose shot was blocked by Jared Sampson. The Royalians failed to score in the 45th minute when a rebound effort from Kyle McIvor was cleared off the line by Yohansey Marshall, after Tigers’ goalkeeper Kegan Davidson parried a backpass from Marshall.

After a goalless first half, QRC goalkeeper Thorne Holder stopped a left-footed blast from Clevon George two minutes into the second session while, in the 58th, a through ball from Troy Thompson was laid off by Trim whose right-footer was swatted away by Holder with Sam’s follow-up hitting the crossbar. Against the run of play, Sampson got past Davidson but his left-footer was cleared off the line by defender Kareem Freitas in the 63rd. But St Anthony’s were not going to be denied and, with their opponents losing confidence with every passing minute, broke the deadlock in the 78th. A long ball by substitute Shabazz Best on the right flank was collected by Trim who found Sam inside the penalty box. With no mean threat from the ragged QRC defence, Sam weaved past four challengers and buried his right-footer past Holder. Holder was easily QRC’s brightest spark, but he could do nothing to prevent Trim from scoring a well-earned goal in the 86th, with Hans Rogers receiving a loose ball and laying off to a goal-bound Trim.

At the Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar, Arima, The “Dial Dynamos” Arima kick-started their season with a 4-0 whipping of San Juan while, in a subsequent match, the “Blue Thunder” El Dorado squeezed past the “Green Machine” St Augustine 2-1. South Zone action will kick off today with a double-header at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella from 3 pm. Vessigny faces St Benedict’s and Naparima opposes defending zonal champs Princes Town from 5 pm. Action  in the East Zone continues today with  Barataria playing hosts to debutants Hillview, while St George’s will travel to the Sangre Grande Recreation Ground to face Toco. Both matches begin at 3.45 pm.