St Anthony’s, Malick upset in North Zone

FATIMA recorded the first upset in the British Gas Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) when they squeezed past defending North Zone champs St Anthony’s 1-0 at the St Anthony’s Grounds, Westmoorings yesterday.

With 10 minutes to go, Kern Gardiner, who also represents Joe Public in the T&T Pro League Youth Divisions, found the back of the net to give Fatima full points over the “Westmoorings Tigers”, their first SSFL defeat since the 2001 season. Another top team to taste defeat at home was Malick, who went under 2-0 to QRC at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo. Taking over top spot in the North are newcomers Morvant/Laventille, who edged Mucurapo 1-0 at the Fatima Grounds courtesy a second half strike from temperamental defender Matthew Cupid. And Adrian Tinto was on target as Diego Martin notched their first win of the season, edging St Mary’s 1-0 at the Diego Martin Grounds, Diamond Vale. Arima maintained their perfect record with a 6-0 thrashing of Barataria at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar, Arima. Dorian Daniel slammed a pair while striker Devon King notched one to give the “Dial Dynamos” a 3-0 halftime cushion. Michael Hospedales also got in the act with a quick double with King adding the finishing touch to a convincing rout.

El Dorado also made it two wins in as many matches, cruising past Toco 2-0 at El Dorado while St Augustine wasted no time on debutants Hillview with a 6-0 hammering at the St Augustine Grounds. And St George’s College overcame a slight setback against San Juan to prevail 6-3 at the St George’s Grounds, Barataria. Goals by captain Marlon St Louis (4th), Cleavon Braithwaite (9th) and Alejandro Acosta (14th) gave the hosts the ascendancy before Terryl Elwin (21st) and captain Kerry Charles (34th) narrowed the advantage at the halftime break. But a powerful right-footer from striker Kempess Villafana in the 47th —- after receiving a pass from St Louis and evading the challenge of Paul Quash, smashing past substitute goalkeeper Tristan Pope — gave St George’s some breathing space over their dispirited opponents. St George’s notched their fifth in the 75th, with Villafana tapping into an empty net after Braithwaite’s weak penalty struck the post and Marlon White’s follow-up was saved by Pope. White got his name on the scoresheet five minutes later, bundling a loose ball past Pope after the pint-sized keeper failed to hold a Marlon Espinet cross. But a header from Kadeem Gibbs in injury time was little consolation for the visitors.

St Benedict’s jumped to the top of the South Zone with a 2-0 win over Presentation San Fernando while, in the earlier match of a double-header at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella, reigning champs Princes Town were held to a 1-1 draw by Pleasantville. Naparima and Fyzabad battled to a goalless tie at Fyzabad while the Mayaro-Vessigny clash was called off by match officials due to a lack of security at the Mayaro Recreation Ground. Tobago Zone kicks off today with a double-header at the Dwight Yorke Stadium, with Scarborough facing Bishop’s at 2 pm while Signal Hill meet Elizabeth’s two hours later.