Royalians slay Tigers for north crown

THE INABILITY to clear out loose balls from corners cost the “Westmoorings Tigers” St Anthony’s the match, and with it their RBTT North Zonal Intercol crown, in yesterday’s final against QRC at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo.

The post-match scenes told the story as hundreds of QRC students stormed the field to embrace their heroes after the final whistle from referee Ramesh Ramdhan. Victory for the Royalians was due reward for their resilience and never-say-die attitude, after they seemed listless and flat-footed during the first 45 minutes. It was one-way traffic in the first half for the Tigers, who took the lead in the 13th through midfielder Troy Thompson. Striker Kevon Neaves, on the left flank, sent captain Julius James clear and, after skipping past the tackles from Delano Pierre and Sherwyn O’Brien, squared a past beyond the reach of the Royalians goalkeeper Thorne Holder for Thompson to slot home. Unmarked in the six-yard box, Thomp-son could have doubled the lead four minutes later but, off-balanced after receiving a short corner from Neaves, he skied his shot overbar. And the torment continued for the Royalians when a Clevon George drive from outside the 18-yard box smashed the bar before sailing over. QRC, who struggled to get their act together, only had one moment of note in the first half, with midfielder Radanfah Abu Bakr seeing his header cleared off the line by Tigers defender Yohance Marshall in the 42nd.

Complacency creep-ed in to the St Anthony’s play in the second half, and their relaxed approach backfired in the 50th. A shot at goal by Jared Sampson, following a right-side corner from substitute Chike Taylor-Phillip, was not cleared out of the box by the Tigers defenders and the beanpole Abu Bakr slid his shot past the grasp of goalie Kegan Davidson. Star Tigers striker Abiola Sandy was a virtual non-factor, and his only meaningful effort, from a right-side centre by Neaves in the 69th, sailed high over Holder’s goal. But the defining moment came five minutes later — again the loose ball from a Taylor-Phillip right side corner was toyed by the St Anthony’s defenders and substitute Akil Burgen tapped his left-footer past Davidson. QRC lost playmaker Jason Devenish in the 82nd, sent off for his second bookable offence after he brought down winger Christian Cabral, but it made little difference as the under-manned Royalians held out until the end.