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St Benedict’s College need only one point now to claim their 2024 SSFL Premier Division title—registration issues notwithstanding—after Presentation College (San Fernando) failed to revive their faltering title challenge on Warren Street in St Augustine.
The “Pres Lions” were away to St Augustine Secondary and a win would have seen the southern bigwigs trim the gap between first and second place to four points. Instead, Presentation trailed for much of the game and had to settle for a 1-1 draw with the newly promoted St Augustine.
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868
Midfielder Abraham Kirk put the “Green Machine” ahead in the first half with a lofted, long ranged free kick that was badly misjudged by young Presentation goalkeeper Ronaldo Lee.
And St Augustine, who are also contending with some boardroom challenges, hung on to their lead for much of the match before Maliq Brathwaite forced a share of the spoils for the two teams.
The result left the two teams unmoved in the standings with Presentation third and St Augustine seventh.
In today’s other rescheduled match, St Anthony’s College pulled off an impressive triumph on the road as they downed Naparima College 3-1 at Lewis Street, San Fernando.
- St Anthony’s College goalkeeper Josiah Morris saves a penalty from Naparima College captain Israel Joseph during SSFL Premier Division action in San Fernando on 26 October 2024.
A penalty from playmaker Mordecai Ford and a Jean-Marc Thomas item put the “Westmoorings Tigers” two goals clear by the interval. Naparima captain Israel Joseph then had his penalty saved by St Anthony’s goalkeeper Josiah Morris early in the second half.
Akiel Vesprey scored the third penalty of the contest, for Naparima, but it was too little too late. And an Andell Fraser goal ensured that St Anthony’s returned to Westmoorings with three points.
Naparima, the most successful team of the Premier Division era, slipped to sixth place now with St Anthony’s sixth—level with Arima North Secondary on 24 points, but with an inferior goal difference.
On Tuesday evening, St Benedict’s College host second-from-bottom Miracle Ministries Pentecostal High School and a draw, pending a registration check of team captain Derrel Garcia, will confirm the “La Romaine Lions” as 2024 champions.
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868
At the other end of the table, St Mary’s College travel to Speyside High in a vital clash on Tuesday.
A draw for St Mary’s will assure them of Premier Division football in 2024. However, a Speyside win will mean a nervy final day of action on Friday—with one from Trinity College East, Signal Hill Secondary, St Mary’s, Speyside and East Mucurapo Secondary set to follow Miracle Ministries back to zonal football.
Speyside, Signal Hill and East Mucurapo still have postponed matches due to play, which means that the fate of the relegated trio will not be known until weeks after the end of the season.
SSFL Premier Division results
(Sat 26 Oct)
Naparima College 1 (Akiel Vesprey pen), St Anthony’s College 3 (Mordecai Ford pen, Jean-Marc Thomas, Andell Fraser) at Lewis Street;
St Augustine Secondary 1 (Abraham Kirk 45), Presentation College (San F’do) 1 (Maliq Brathwaite 81) at Warren Street.
2024 SSFL Premier Division
| Pos | Club | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  St Benedict's | 15 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 36 | 7 | 29 | 41 |
| 2 |  Fatima | 15 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 48 | 14 | 34 | 35 |
| 3 |  Presentation | 15 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 33 | 10 | 23 | 35 |
| 4 |  St Anthony's | 15 | 10 | 0 | 5 | 36 | 21 | 15 | 30 |
| 5 |  Arima North | 14 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 24 | 11 | 13 | 24 |
| 6 |  Naparima | 15 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 26 | 19 | 7 | 22 |
| 7 |  QRC | 15 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 22 | 21 | 1 | 21 |
| 8 |  Malick | 15 | 6 | 2 | 7 | 30 | 32 | -2 | 20 |
| 9 |  San Juan | 15 | 6 | 1 | 8 | 25 | 28 | -3 | 19 |
| 10 |  Signal Hill | 14 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 23 | 26 | -3 | 18 |
| 11 |  St Mary's | 15 | 5 | 1 | 9 | 17 | 29 | -12 | 16 |
| 12 |  St Augustine | 15 | 4 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 34 | -23 | 15 |
| 13 |  Trinity East | 15 | 4 | 1 | 10 | 20 | 30 | -10 | 13 |
| 14 |  Speyside | 15 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 21 | 34 | -13 | 12 |
| 15 |  Mucurapo | 15 | 4 | 0 | 11 | 14 | 27 | -13 | 12 |
| 16 |  Miracle Ministries | 15 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 8 | 51 | -43 | 7 |
Upcoming fixtures
(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;
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868
Match Day Fifteen
(Fri 1 Nov)
Presentation (San F’do) v Naparima College, 3.30pm, Mannie Ramjohn Stadium;
Fatima College v Malick Secondary, 3.30pm, Mucurapo Road;
St Mary’s College v St Benedict’s College, 3.30pm, Serpentine Road;
San Juan North v St Anthony’s College, 3.30pm, Bourg Mulatrasse;
Arima North Secondary v Speyside High, 3.30pm, Arima Velodrome;
Miracle Ministries PHS v Trinity College East, 3.30pm, Edinburgh 500;
Signal Hill Secondary v East Mucurapo Secondary, 3.30pm, Signal Hill;
St Augustine Secondary v Queen’s Royal College, 3.30pm, Warren Street;
Photo: Ramsey Prentice/ Wired868
Rescheduled matches
(Dates to be determined)
East Mucurapo Secondary v Speyside Secondary, 3.30pm, Mucurapo Road;
Speyside High v Signal Hill Secondary, 3.30pm, Speyside;
Signal Hill Secondary v Arima North Secondary, 3.30pm, Signal Hill.
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