‘Tigers’ gnaw 5-4 Big Five win

THE “Westmoorings Tigers” St Anthony’s held their composure and nerves at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo yesterday to defeat Signal Hill 5-4 after kicks from the penalty spot in the British Gas Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Big 5 tournament.

The Tigers will defend their title in Saturday’s final against the winner of today’s Arima-Naparima contest. The Tobagonians have only temselves to blame for the result after 90 minutes of full-time and 20 minutes of sudden-death injury time. Both teams were locked at 3-3 after five kicks, with Clevon George, captain Julius James and Yohance Marshall converting for the Tigers and skipper Keon Daniel, Tyrone Walters and Vernon Wilson scoring for Signal Hill. The score moved to 4-4 following successful kicks from Kevon Neaves (St Anthony’s) and Kester Thomas (S/Hill) but the following shots from Kwesi Thomas and Kirsten Benjamin were saved by respective goalkeepers Victor Thomas (S/Hill) and Keegan Davidson (St Anthony’s). With tension rising, Shabazz Best saw his shot parried into the back of the net by Thomas (V) and, needing to score to keep his team’s hopes alive, Kino Proctor blasted his kick overbar.

St Anthony’s clearly had the better of the exchanges in the first half, with star striker Abiola Sandy sending shots wide of the mark in the 10th and 29th, while midfielder Troy Thompson saw his curling freekick saved by Signal Hill goalie Thomas (V) three minutes later. Weathering an early second half storm from the Tobago Zonal champs, the Tigers took the lead in the 58th —- Neaves sending Sandy clear on the left and, after hesistating for a second, found an unmarked Thompson in the six-yard box who tapped home his left-footer. Seconds later, Thompson sent his right-footed volley overbar from a Thomas (Kwesi) left-side centre while Neaves, after eluding three defenders on the right, looked on in anguish as George blasted his left-footer overbar. Daniel, head and shoulders over his teammates, had his 76th minute freekick punched over by Davidson, but he was to make amends five minutes later. After striker Massimba George was fouled by James, Daniel curled his left-footed spot kick, from 20 metres, past Davidson’s lunge. The Tigers controlled possession but were hardly threatening during injury time but, with their title at stake, showed their resilience in the end.