Former champion Naparima College, reigning National Inter-Col champion Fatima College, and San Juan North Secondary remained the teams with 100 percent winning records after Round Three matches in the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Premier Division, on Wednesday.
At Lewis Street, San Fernando, the Travis Mulraine-coached three-time champions Naparima made it three wins on the trot in their quest to reclaim their title with a comfortable 9-0 win over fellow southerners Pleasantville Secondary.
For Naparima, who had to come from behind to beat St Mary's College away 3-2 in the previous round, Kevin Francois and Kanye Francis, each scored a pair of goals while Jaron Pascal, captain Tyrel Rajoon, Aaron Raymond and Israel Joseph added one apiece together with an own goal from the visitors.
At Mucurapo Road, Fatima came away with a 5-0 win against previously perfect East Mucurapo Secondary in the 'Mucurapo Road" derby with Michael Chaves, substitute Thomas Decle, Christian Bailey, and another substitute Justin Alcantara (two), all getting on the scoresheet.
Fatima opened the scoring after only eight minutes when Aidan De Gannes won a 50-50 challenge with a East Mucurapo defender and picked out an unmarked Chaves, who collected and with time and space rifled a right-footed effort into the far corner.
As the match went on, East Mucurapo came into their own, but their momentum was halted when referee Timothy Derry was forced to pause the contest for safety reasons due to lightning flashes in the 31st minute.
When the match resumed after a 20-minute break, East Mucurapo created the best chance through a counterattack with Clint Latchman picking out Jemon Gulston just inside the 18-yard box, but after eluding defender Yohance Atherton, his right-footed effort was brilliantly kept out by a save low down to his left by goalkeeper Tristan Edwards to preserve Fatima's lead.
However, East Mucurapo then suffered a blow when Latchman was issued a straight red card for violent conduct by referee Timothy Derry, leaving his team to play the remainder of the half, and the entire second 45 minutes with ten men while Fatima's Christian Dailey was shown a yellow from the same incident.
Seven minutes into the second half, Decle was picked out by a right-sided cross by Bailey, and from less than six yards out he doubled his team's advantage as they began to stamp their authority on the contest with the extra man.
Six minutes later, Bailey all but secured the three points for the home team when he slotted into an open net before Alcantara added items in the 68th and 90th minute, to put the icing on the commanding win with the scoreline not really a true reflection of the effort from the Dale Saunders-coached East Mucurapo.
Not too far away at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella, the Jerry Moe-coached San Juan North also made three out of three in the win column thanks to a brace from Queen's Royal College (QRC) transfer Nathan Quashie, with a goal coming in each half against Presentation College of San Fernando.
At Park Street Recreation Ground, Morvant, former SSFL powerhouse Malick Secondary recorded the biggest win on the day, 10-0 over Chaguanas North Secondary with Ronaldinho Richards and J'Lon Matthews scoring braces while teammates Malachi Woodley, Ackeem James, Oba Samuel, Keston Richards, Zachary Joseph, and Jordan Ferdinand were also on target.
At St Mary's College ground, Serpentine Road, St Clair, visitor Arima North produced the shock result of the day when they slammed fellow promoted team and Championship Division 2022 winners St Mary's College 8-1 inspired by a hat trick from Tyrell Stapleton and a double by Darion Marfan.
The trio of captain Jamaul Ashing, Theron O'Brien and Ability Hazel also found the target against the reeling 'Saints' who got a late consolation item from their skipper Kyle Phillip, in their second straight defeat.
Over in Tobago, defending Premier Division ‘Big-Four’ champions St Benedict’s finally picked up its first points of the season in a 3-0 win over Bishop's High School with Malachi Webb, Jaden Grant and Daniel Jones at the Plymouth Recreation Ground.
In other matches yesterday, St Anthony's got its first points of the campaign in a 2-1 home win over Speyside in Westmoorings and QRC won for the second straight contest, 1-0 away to Trinity College East with Tau Lamsee on target in Trincity. Matches resume on Saturday.
Wednesday's results:
St Benedict's 3 (Malachi Webb, Jade Grant, Daniel Jones) vs Bishop's High 0
Fatima 5 (Michael Chaves 8th, Thomas Decle 52nd, Christian Bailey 58th, Justin Alcantara 68th, 90th) vs East Mucurapo 0
Malick 10 (Ronaldinho Richards 2, J'Lon Matthews 2, Malachi Woodley, Ackeem James , Oba Samuel, Keston Richards, Zachary Joseph, Jordan Ferdinand) vs Chaguanas North Sec 0
Naparima 9 (Kevin Francois 2, Kanye Francis 2, Jaron Pascal, Tyrel Rajoon, Aaron Raymond, Israel Joseph, own goal) vs Pleasantville Sec 0
San Juan North 2 (Nathan Quashie 2) vs Presentation College 0
St Anthony's College 2 (Daniel Rose, Obadiah Eyeadelrosiyhia) vs Speyside 1 (Omar Daniel)
Arima North 8 (Tyrell Stapleton 3, Darion Marfan 2, Jamaul Ashing, Theron O'Brien, Ability Hazel) vs St Mary's 1 (Kyle Phillip)
QRC 1 (Tau Lamsee) vs Trinity College East 0
Current standings:
Positions*Teams*P*W*D*L*F*A*Pts
1.Naparima College*3*3*0*0*22*2*9
2.Fatima College*3*3*0*0*14*0*9
3. San Juan North*3*3*0*0*11*3*9
4. East Mucurapo*3*2*0*1*3*6*6
5. Malick*3*2*0*1*13*2*6
6. QRC*3*2*0*1*3*3*6
7. Arima North*3*1*2*0*9*2*5
8. Presentation*3*1*1*1*1*2*4
9. St Benedict's College*3*1*0*2*6*5*3
10. Speyside Sec*3*1*0*2*4*4*3
11. St Mary's College*3*1*0*2*11*11*3
12. St Anthony's College*3*1*0*2*2*9*3
13. Chaguanas North*3*1*0*2*1*20*3
14. Trinity East*3*0*1*2*2*4*1
15. Bishop's High*3*0*0*3*1*7*0
16. Pleasantville*3*0*0*3*0*22*0
