Top three inch closer to crowns

MUCURAPO, ST AUGUSTINE and Presentation College, Chaguanas inched closer to the British Gas Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) North, East and Central Zone titles respectively after they recorded contrasting victories yesterday. In the North, Richard Roy got the winner for Mucurapo as they edged Fatima 1-0 at the Fatima Ground. Mucurapo hold a four-point lead over two-time champs St Anthony’s, but the “Tigers” kept up the pace with a 4-0 whipping of Morvant/Laventille at their home base in Westmoorings. Goals from Yohance Marshall, Troy Thompson, Kareem Freitas and national Under-17 forward Lester Peltier set them apart.

Atiba Fraser netted a double for St Mary’s, while Aldo Hope, Kashif Clarke and Jake O’Brien added one apiece as CIC blanked Tranquillity 5-0 at the CIC Ground while Malick got a pair from Hayden Tinto and one from Leon Victor as they defeated QRC 3-0 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo. National youth team players —  midfielder Shastri Spencer (Under-17) and striker Shane Calderon (Under-20) notched two goals apiece to guide hosts, “Green Machine” St Augustine, to a 5-1 trouncing of  “Blue Thunder” El Dorado, whose lone response came from Dwight Critchlow. San Juan remained in second spot, six points behind the East Zone leaders, after a 4-2 whipping of Barataria at Bourg Mulatresse while St George’s moved to third position with a 5-0 crushing of “Diamond Cutters” Valencia at the St George’s Ground. Yannick Pilgrim had a field day, with a beaver-trick while Michael De Freitas netted the other.

And the “Dial Dynamos” Arima suffered a major setback in their quest for a third straight East Zone crown after they were held to a 2-2 draw by Hillview at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Arima. Stephan George and Fernando Thomas were on target for Hillview. Presentation secured their seventh successive win in the Central Zone —  by a 5-0 margin over Union Claxton Bay at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, courtesy of a hat-trick from Marvin Manswell and one each from Dion Lewis and Anthony O’Garro. Carapichaima climbed to second place with a 3-0 triumph over hosts Marabella with a double from Keron Smith and one from Okan Ross while Tabaquite earned a come-from-behind 2-1 win at home to Chaguanas Senior. Jumer Lucas put the visitors in front before two second-half goals from Renaldo Fraser meant full points for Tabaquite.

Other Results
South Zone —
At Pleasantville: ST BENEDICT’S (2) —  Akil Belfon, Arvid Applewhite vs PLEASANTVILLE (0); At Moruga: NAPARIMA (2) —  Kern Robinson, Atiba Bailey vs MORUGA (0); At Fyzabad: FYZABAD (1) —  Anton Preddie vs VESSIGNY (0); At Princes Town: PRINCES TOWN (1) vs MAYARO (0).