Arima, Naps stay on top in East, South

THE “Dial Dynamos” Arima and Naparima maintained their positions atop the East and South Zones of the British Gas Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) after yesterday’s round of matches. Arima blanked the “Blue Thunder” El Dorado 3-1 at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar, Arima, while Naparima eased past the sliding Pleasantville 2-0 at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella. But the inclement weather forced the cancellation of two matches, including the North Zone matchup between the “Tigers” St Anthony’s and Malick at the St Anthony’s Grounds, Westmoorings. The other fixture called off because of a waterlogged field was the top-of-the-table clash in the Central Division between Carapichaima and Presentation Chaguanas at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Balmain, Couva.

In fact, all matches in the Central Zone were called off, as no officials turned up at the Tabaquite Grounds for the Tabaquite-Union Claxton Bay battle. Arima held a 2-0 halftime lead courtesy strikes from midfielder Jevon Crichlow in the 12th and striker Dorian Daniel in the 37th before Cordell Samuels reduced the deficit early in the second half. Dion Peters failed in his bid to level the scores, as he saw his penalty saved by Arima goalkeeper Ryan Ajim. And that error will return to haunt the struggling El Do, as national youth team striker Gorean “Mickey Rat” Highley sealed full points for Arima with an 81st item. St Augustine remained two points adrift of Arima after an own goal in the second half gave the “Green Machine” a 1-0 win at home against cellar-placed San Juan, their sixth win on a trot. Barataria moved to third on the table after whipping neighbours St George’s 2-0 at the Barataria Grounds with strikes from Jonathan Romain and Dion Charles while Hillview battled to a 2-2 draw versus Toco at the Sangre Grande Recreation Grounds.

Naps extended their lead in the South to six points following their win in Marabella with goals from Lyndel Pompey in the third minute and Andrew Bailey in the 25th. Second-placed St Benedict’s suffered a major setback when they went under 2-1 away to Mayaro while Fyzabad edged reigning zonal champs Princes Town 1-0 at the Fyzabad Grounds. And, in the clash of the bottom-two teams, Vessigny trounced Presentation San Fernando 4-1 with Timmy Hernandez and Hughton Hector each scoring a double while Devaughn Jones got the lone strike for Presentation. With the “Tigers” inactive, QRC regained the lead in the North following a 3-1 victory over traditional rivals St Mary’s at the QRC Grounds, St Clair. Mucurapo recorded their third successive win, a 6-2 demolition of cellar-placed Diego Martin at the Fatima Grounds, a result which saw Mucurapo jump to third on the standings. In the Zone’s other fixture, the inconsistent Fatima were held to a goalless draw by Morvant/Laventille at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo. Action continues in the sister isle Tobago today with Roxborough hosting defending zonal princes Scarborough at 4 pm.