Michael Chaves scored a pair of goals as defending National Inter-Col champions Fatima College overcame an early deficit to beat Malick Secondary 4-2 and open a three-point lead at the top of the 16-team Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Boys’ Premier Division at St Mary’s College Ground, St Clair on Wednesdayw.
Going into matches, the Hutson Charles-coached Fatima College, and San Juan North under the guidance of long-serving coach Jerry More both shared the lead with 25 points from ten matches.
However, while Fatima was able to overcome their early setback, such was not the case for San Juan North as they fell to a 1-0 defeat to St Anthony’s College at Westmoorings.
At Serpentine Road, Malachi Woodley fired Malick ahead in the tricky contest inside the first 15 minutes, but Fatima then drew level through Chaves to leave both teams level at the half.
On the resumption, the trio of Chaves, Caden Trestrial, and Yohance Artherton all netted to guarantee all three points for Fatima to climb to 28 points and four matches left to play before Woodley added a late second item to his and Malick’s tally.
The victory lifted Fatima College to 28 points and matches left to play against Bishop’s High School, Trinity East College, Naparima, and St Mary’s College while San Juan North which was undone by a second-half Aalon Wilson-Wright strike for St Anthony’s stayed on 25 points and will meet Malick, St Mary’s College, East Mucurapo, and Chaguanas North in their final four matches to close out the season.
Down South in two key match-ups, Presentation College of San Fernando saw midfielder Duhrell Young sky a 23rd-minute penalty in an entertaining goalless draw with fellow title-chasers and host Naparima College at Lewis Street, San Fernando, while a short distance away, St Benedict’s College led by a second hat trick of the season from Malacai Webb, now with a league-best 11 goals clobbered the faltering struggling St Mary’s College 5-0 at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella.
The two results saw St Benedict’s College climb to 23 points on the standings, the same as Naparima who enjoy a healthier goal difference while St Anthony’s courtesy of their win at home sits fifth with 22 points, one more than Presentation College.
In the other matches today, East Mucurapo Secondary thumped Bishop’s High School 4-1 at Fatima College Ground; Queen’s Royal College thrashed Pleasantville Secondary 7-1 at QRC Ground, Maraval Road, Arima North Secondary trounced host Speyside 4-0 at Speyside Recreation Ground, and Trinity College East also won 4-0 at home to Chaguanas North Secondary at Trincity.
