SSFL 24: James scores again as Signal Hill down Arima North 3-2

Signal Hill Secondary jumped two places to eighth spot in the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Premier Division standings yesterday as they defeated Arima North Secondary 3-1 in their rescheduled fixture in Signal Hill, Tobago.

Forward Kyle James came off the bench to score the winner for Signal Hill, who never trailed in the affair and can reflect on a top top finish in their return to the elite schoolboys’ competition.

For Arima North, it was a third straight league defeat, after the “Dial Dynamos” went unbeaten for the first 12 games of their campaign. The east Trinidad school suffered their first loss of 2024 on 29 October when they fell 2-0 to Fatima College, which was quickly followed by a 3-2 defeat to Speyside Secondary on 2 November.

Yesterday, the Dynamos found themselves in early trouble as Signal Hill raced to a two-goal lead inside the first 20 minutes, through flanker Damario Henry and midfielder Nickel Williams.

However, the visitors clawed themselves back level through playmaker Darren De Four and flanker Nkosi Fuentes, only for James to pounce on a defensive error to settle the affair. The match was officiated by Ashton Benjamin.

It was James’ 12 league goal of the season, which pulled him level with the Premier Division’s second highest scorer, Fatima College playmaker Caden Trestrail.

Trestrail and James are both five goals shy of St Benedict’s College captain and star attacker Derrel “Zoom Zoom” Garcia, despite the fact that Garcia played less games.

Arima North, who had nothing but bragging rights to play for in Tobago, finish fifth in the standings—six points behind St Anthony’s College and two points above Naparima College.

At present, St Benedict’s head the Premier Division standings with 41 points from 16 games, while Speyside, East Mucurapo Secondary and Miracles Ministries Pentecostal High School are due for relegation.

But a decisive ruling on their registration of Garcia is still pending, with potential implications on the top and relegated schools.

SSFL Premier Division result

(Mon 9 Dec)

Signal Hill Secondary 3 (Damario Henry 11, Nickel Williams 18, Kyle James 68), Arima North Secondary 2 (Darren De Four 37, Nkosi Fuentes 49) at Signal Hill.

2024 SSFL Premier Division

Pos	Club	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	Fatima	15	12	2	1	50	11	39	38
2	Presentation	15	11	2	2	33	10	23	35
3	St Anthony's	15	11	0	4	38	19	19	33
4	St Benedict's	15	9	2	4	28	16	12	29
5	Arima North	15	6	6	3	26	14	12	24
6	QRC	15	7	3	5	24	19	5	24
7	Naparima	15	6	4	5	26	19	7	22
8	San Juan	15	7	1	7	28	27	1	22
9	Signal Hill	15	6	3	6	26	28	-2	21
10	Malick	15	6	2	7	30	32	-2	20
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

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