Vessigny, Benedict’s advance

Not even the spirited efforts of the Mayaro rhythm section could help their team on this day as Vessigny, last year’s national runners-up asserted their dominance over the majority of the 90 minutes. Akeem Collins set the tone early for the "boys by d’ sea" by registering a double within the first 20 minutes before he was taken off just minutes before the half.

Moments after Collins made his departure, Khalil Commissiong then added a third item for good measure as PSAEL sponsored boys went into the interval with a three goal advantage. Vessigny appeared to be on cruise control in the second session as they did just enough to ensure that there would be no comeback for Mayaro.

They now advance to meet St Benedict’s college who scored four goals to crush Moruga 4-1. The evening’s second match should have been dubbed the "Matthew Bartholemew Show" as the midfielder had a part to play in all of his team’s goals.

Moruga momentarily stunned the ‘Beneticts’ supporters by going ahead in the 10th minute via Solomon Brerton goal. But their celebrations would be short lived as St Benedict’s stormed back with goals by Jamal Penny in the 16th and Muhajir Ar-Razi in the 34th, both products of Bartholomew crosses.

The long haired midfielder then exchanged his passing shoes for a pair of scoring boots at the interval as he proceeded to score a double in the second half to put the match out of Moruga’s reach.

The team from Deep South clearly had no answers for Bartholomew but will have a long time to try and figure out what went wrong as their season came to an abrupt end yesterday.

Three matches were contested in the Central Zone, with Marabella annihilating Union Claxton Bay 15-1 in the second match of a double-header at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva.

The first match at the venue saw Chaguanas getting the better of Tabaquite 2-1, with Anjel Garcia’s effort in vain for the losers. At the Presentation College Ground in Chaguanas, Carapichaima crushed Gasparillo 7-0 to advance to the Central Zone "semis", which will take place on Wednesday.

Four matches will be played today, in the South, East and Tobago Zones.

At the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Princes Town meet Fyzabad at 3 pm followed by the clash between Naparima and Presentation San Fernando.

Hillview will face Malabar at the Larry Gomes Stadium in Arima from 4 pm while, simultaneously, Bishop’s clash against Mason Hall in Shaw Park, Scarborough.