Get it out the mud!
San Juan North Secondary kept their perfect start to the 2022 Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Premier Division season going as they eked out a 1-0 win over Trinity College East (TCE) in Trincity this afternoon.
(Copyright Daniel Prentice/ Wired868)
The boys from Bourg Mulatresse did their business early today, as their captain and in-form striker Larry Noel banged in from close range after the Trinity defence failed to deal with a long clearance by San Juan goalkeeper Xavion Haynes.
San Juan North scored 21 goals in their first three Group B games and Trinity East fans would have been alarmed to go behind inside the first two minutes of play.
Yet, it was the Blue Hawks of Trinity who might have easily scored, as their best chance of the match arguably came seconds before Noel’s opener. Forward Desailly Bastien-Cowan got a clear sight of goal off a deep free kick, only for his right footed effort to be saved by Haynes from close range.
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And, try as they might, Trinity could not find a leveller in the muddy, sluggish conditions in Trincity, as San Juan, led by coach Jerry Moe put on a defensive showing that rekindled memories of their run of four straight National Intercol Finals in the pre Covid-19 era.
“Goals win matches, but defence wins you championships,” Moe told Wired868, as he heaped praises on his defensive unit for their marshalling of Trinity East star and national youth player Jaheim Faustin.
Faustin buzzed throughout but even the skilful attacker could not get the job done for the hosts. And Trinity’s hopes of an equaliser seemed to fade away in the 86th minute, when San Juan central defender Jaheshua Ferguson’s brilliant sliding tackle thwarted Faustin as he ran on to a tantalising pass from substitute Joshua Figaro.
(Copyright Daniel Prentice/ Wired868)
Twelve points out 12 for San Juan then. Meanwhile, Trinity have three points from four matches, with their three defeats—against Presentation College (San Fernando), Malick Secondary and San Juan—all carrying identical 1-0 score lines.
So close, yet so far.
(See Wired868 tonight for the full match report with additional photos.)
(Teams)
Trinity College East (4-3-3): 1.Brandon Dalrymple (GK); 2.Josiah Daniel, 12.John-Michael Romero, 6.Andre Providence (captain), 3.Anderson Barnwell; 20.Riley Hill (18.Joshua Figaro 62), 14.Jeremiah Frank-Williams (5.Dexter Croal 81), 21.Khaden Caraby; 17.Jaheim Faustin (16.Terrel Davis 90), 19.Desailly Bastien-Cowan (15.Jean-Luc Romero 81), 11.Jonathan Emrith (7.Seretse Browne 57).
Unused substitutes: 23.Alexis Ambrose GK), 25.Hasheem Hill.
Coach: Dwayne Davis
San Juan North Secondary (4-2-3-1): 1.Xavion Haynes (GK); 14.Desailly Lewis, 6.Jaheshua Ferguson, 2.Joshua Lewis, 15.Kent Guy; 12.Jardell Mitchell, 20.Kedell Jones; 11.Jadiel Joseph, 10.Lindell Sween, 7.Elizsha Rogers (18.Rondell Harewood 62); 9.Larry Noel (captain).
Unused substitutes: 30.Stephon Langaigne (GK), 13.Kyle Hypolite, 16.Isaiah Audin, 17.Jahdel Chase-Charles, 19.Daniel Lewis, 23.Michel Baptiste.
Coach: Jerry Moe
Referee: Gyasi McDonald
(Copyright Daniel Prentice/ Wired868)
SSFL Premier Division results
Group B
(Wednesday 28 September)
Trinity College East 0, San Juan North 1 (Larry Noel 2) at Trincity;
Chaguanas North 1 (Justin Lewis), East Mucurapo 2 (Zion Harley [2]), 4pm, African Grounds, Enterprise;
Malick Secondary 2 (J’lon Matthews [2]), QRC 4 (Aydon Caruth, Zion Aberdeen, Mussadiq Mohammed, Stephon James) at Serpentine Road;
Presentation (San F’do) 3 (Micah Brathwaite 33, Caleb Boyce 45, Mackiel Edwards 81), Moruga Secondary 0 at Ato Boldon Stadium.
(Copyright Daniel Prentice/ Wired868)
Upcoming Fixtures
Group B
(Sat 1 October)
Presentation (San F’do) vs Chaguanas North, 4pm, Ato Boldon Stadium;
QRC vs Trinity College East, 4pm, QRC;
Moruga Secondary vs Malick Secondary, 4pm, Moruga
San Juan North vs East Mucurapo, 4pm, San Juan.
(Copyright Daniel Prentice/ Wired868)
Group A
(Saturday 1 October)
Naparima College vs Pleasantville Secondary, 2pm, Ato Boldon Stadium;
(Wednesday 5 October)
Carapichaima East vs St Anthony’s College, 2pm, Ato Boldon Stadium;
St Benedict’s College vs Naparima College, 4pm, Ato Boldon Stadium;
St Augustine Secondary vs Fatima College, 4pm, St Augustine;
Speyside High vs Pleasantville Secondary, 3.30pm, Speyside.