SSFL 24: Garcia proves too much for “Pres Lions”, as St Benedict’s inch closer to title

Derrel “Zoom Zoom” Garcia, once again, was the star of the show as St Benedict’s College inched closer to the 2024 Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Premier Division title, with a 2-0 victory over Presentation College (San Fernando) in a top-of-the-table duel at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella today.

Questions continue to surround Garcia’s legitimacy as a St Benedict’s student and, judging from the initial findings of a probe by Ministry of Education officials, the “La Romaine Lions” may still have to defend their campaign in a boardroom.

On the field of play, though, there can be little debate about the Premier Division’s best team at this stage.

As it stands, the unbeaten St Benedict’s outfit have 35 points from 13 games. Three more points will take St Benedict’s out of the reach of second place Fatima College (29 points from 12 matches) and third place Presentation (28 points from 11 matches).

Next, they face the struggling pair of Miracle Ministries Pentecostal High School and St Mary’s College.

Today, the defending champs, Fatima, leapfrogged the “Pres Lions” as they brushed aside Queen’s Royal College (QRC) 3-0 in St Clair.

Meanwhile, on Mucurapo Road, Arima North Secondary conjured up a late winner as Criston “CJ” Gomez scored in stoppage time, following a controversial late penalty kick, to help the fourth-placed “Dial Dynamos” edge East Mucurapo Secondary 2-1.

At the other end of the table, a Khaleem Prince double saw Trinity College East defeat St Mary’s College 2-1 on Serpentine Road, St Clair, to claw themselves out of the relegation zone to 13th on the 16-team table.

The “Blue Hawks” climbed above Speyside High, who fell into the bottom three, alongside Miracle Ministries PHS and cellar-placed East Mucurapo.

There was glory at stake in Marabella, though, as St Benedict’s and Presentation faced off in the biggest game of the season so far.

Garcia, the captain and striker, once again played a pivotal role in his team’s fortunes. He won a free kick after a tussle with opposing skipper Cody Cooper in the 39th minute. And defensive midfielder Adam Pierre took advantage of the young Presentation goalkeeper Marcelo Phillip’s questionable positioning to score the opening goal.

At the time, Presentation striker Caleb Boyce would have been regretting missing a glorious chance to put his team in front. In the seventh minute, he met a cross from the left by Vaughn Clement but his downward header was safely held by goalie Thane Devenish.

Clint McMillan, St Benedict’s assistant coach, pointed out a tactical change, which caught Presentation off-guard.

“Today, we decided to change up the style of play a little bit and play like the opponents,” McMillan said. “What they were expecting from us, they didn’t get to see—so they didn’t have a chance to change their game to counter how we play.

“They normally play with two defensive midfielders to protect their backline. They utilise plenty of counter-attacking and transition breaks. We decided to use the same [strategy] as them to see if they were able to contain it.”

Shawn Cooper, Presentation coach and father of their team captain, rued their inability to make the most of their opportunities.

“We dominated possession, but we didn’t make use of [it],” said the Presentation coach. “We allowed two goals to score against the run of play [in] transition.”

Despite allowing Presentation to have the majority of the possession in the first half, St Benedict’s went into the halftime interval with a crucial lead.

“That was the idea—to give them most of the possession of the ball and let them feel comfortable,” said McMillan. “But on the break, we’ll play it up to them.

“After some research, the only solid defender they had was Cooper. The rest of them weren’t able to match the speed of [Garcia]. We told [Garcia to] attack Cody first, let the rest of the defenders come and create the spaces that we need.”

Eleven minutes from the final whistle, Garcia put the game to bed for St Benedict’s. He sprinted on to a long punt from left-back Elijah George and shrugged off a challenge from opposing centre-back Jimally Renne, before drilling a right-footed shot high to Phillip’s right.

“That was the inexperience of the youngster (Renne) in the back—he will grow,” said coach Cooper, of Garcia’s goal. “I’m very disappointed with the result of the game, but I’m not too worried about the performance. We played relatively well.

“We could have gotten more opportunities at goal but [with] better decision-making on top. This loss has dropped us down to third, but we’ll build on that.”

Garcia could have added salt to Presentation’s wounds in stoppage time when he ran at a quartet of defenders (Cooper, Nikosi Foncette, Micah Brathwaite and Roshaun Doobay) but instead watched in agony as his left-footed shot rebounded off the post.

About Garcia’s performance today, McMillan said: “They tried to box him in with three players to take away his abilities. We told him to relax and pick his moment.”

Pending intervention from higher authorities, it looked to be game, set and match for the 2024 Premier Division.

Teams

Presentation College (San Fernando) (4-5-1): 1.Marcelo Phillip (GK); 2.Micah Brathwaite, 21.Jimally Renne (11.Roshaun Doobay 82), 5.Cody Cooper (captain), 12.Duhrell Young; 7.Vaughn Clement, 16.Josiah Bain, 6.Levi Jones, 15.Nikosi Foncette, 10.Isaiah Jacob; 9.Caleb Boyce (13.Josiah Simmons 61).

Unused substitutes: 28.Renaldo Lee (GK); 3.Terrance Worrell, 14.Maliq Brathwaite, 17.Joshua Bernard, 18.Quincy Thomas, 19.Kwesi Seales, 23.Gabriel Collins, 25.Kadon Elliott.

Coach: Shawn Cooper

St Benedict’s College (4-3-3): 22.Thane Devenish (GK); 2.Ackeem James, 17.Joshua Figaro, 3.Isaiah David, 13.Elijah George; 8.Cam’ron Burke (7.Elijah David 53), 4.Adam Pierre, 19.Lyshaun Morris (5.Sahrai Mitchell 90); 12.Josiah Ochoa, 10.Derrel Garcia (captain), 11.Ethan Trotman (18.Kylon Cayenne 76).

Unused substitutes: 1,Naftali Charles (GK), 6.Salim Soanes, 9.Jelani Stoute, 14.Josiah Barrow, 15.Nathan George, 16.Kai Robertson, 20.Giovanni McKnight, 21.Ruben Phillips.

Coach: Randolph Boyce

Referee: Cecile Hinds

SSFL Premier Division results

(Tue 22 Oct)

San Juan North 3 (Lindell Sween 27, 36, Jahdel Chase-Charles 33), Speyside High 0 at Bourg Mulatresse;

(Wed 23 Oct)

Presentation (San F’do) 0, St Benedict’s College 2 (Adam Pierre 39, Derrel Garcia 79) at Mannie Ramjohn Stadium;

East Mucurapo Secondary 1 (Kadeem Morrison 64), Arima North Secondary 2 (Jaquan Aguilleria 44, Criston Gomez 90+1) at Mucurapo Road;

Malick Secondary 2 (Tyrese Manswell 39, Jaheem Homer 74), St Anthony’s College 1 (Jean-Marc Thomas 60) at Arima Velodrome;

Miracle Ministries PHS 0, St Augustine Secondary 1 (Ky-Mani Hazel 90+3) at Edinburgh 500;

Queen’s Royal College 0, Fatima College 3 (Luke Correia 20, 28, Caden Trestrail 90+2) at QRC;

Signal Hill Secondary 0, Naparima College 1 (Arron Raymond 36) at Signal Hill;

St Mary’s College 1 (Nadeem Grant 10), Trinity College East 2 (Khaleem Prince 9, 79) at Serpentine Road;

Upcoming fixtures

(Sat 26 Oct)

Naparima College v St Anthony’s College, 3.30pm, Lewis Street;

St Augustine Secondary v Presentation College (San F’do), 4pm, Warren Street;

(Tue 29 Oct)

Arima North Secondary v Fatima College, 3.30pm, Arima Velodrome;

Naparima College v San Juan North, 3.30pm, Lewis Street;

East Mucurapo Secondary v Queen’s Royal College, 3.30pm, Mucurapo Road;

Malick Secondary v St Augustine Secondary, 3.30pm, Serpentine Road;

Speyside High v St Mary’s College, 3.30pm, Speyside;

St Anthony’s College v Signal Hill Secondary, 3.30pm, Westmoorings;

St Benedict’s College v Miracle Ministries PHS, 3.30pm, Mahaica Sporting Complex;

Trinity College East v Presentation (San F’do), 3.30pm, Trincity.