SSFL 25: Bain bullet pierces Naparima; as “Pres Lions” hold on for derby win

Naparima College’s Lewis Street ground fell silent at the final whistle today, save for the tireless rhythm section.

In arguably the Secondary Schools Football League’s biggest derby at present, Presentation College (San Fernando) emerged triumphant with a 1-0 result that could potentially breathe new life into the 2025 Premier Division title race.

Thank Presentation defensive midfielder Josiah Bain’s thumping drive for that!

The Naparima defeat, coupled with a freakish 6-4 win by Fatima College over Arima North Secondary, saw the former’s team lead atop the standings trimmed from five points to two—although the latter outfit played one game more.

Naparima, who had a 100 percent record before today, have 27 points to Fatima’s 25.

Presentation College are fourth with 25 points. The “Pres Lions” trail third placed St Benedict’s College by goal difference—and St Benedict’s further enhanced their goal tally today with a 12-1 mauling of bottom placed Carapichaima East Secondary.

There was movement at the other end of the table as Malick Secondary climbed out of relegation zone, after a 3-3 draw with Queen’s Royal College at QRC ground. It might have been better too for Malick, who were denied three points by a last-minute equaliser from Josh Thavenot.

Malick’s climb from 14th to 12th was at the expense of San Juan North Secondary, who slipped into the bottom three after their 2-1 loss away to St Anthony’s College today.

St Anthony’s are sixth at present with 19 points. And, with two games in hand, the “Westmoorings Tigers” can feasibly pull themselves into second place—and title contention—if a few more results go their way.

Today belonged to Presentation, though.

At the final whistle, a group of Presentation College players ran onto the field bearing a banner that pledged support for suspended coach Shawn Cooper, who remains sidelined by Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) safeguarding chief Gary St Rose.

However, Pres were in celebratory mode, having held on to edge their fierce rivals in a proper, gritty derby.

The visitors started stronger on Lewis Street, with wingers Mahkaya Mahon and Roshaun Doobay making early inroads.

But “Naps” soon wrestled control and demonstrated why they are atop the standings, with their own wingers, Jaydon Caprietta and Arron Raymond, coming into their own.

Midfielder Shabani Thompson came closest to the first goal during the opening 45 minutes, with a 20-yard effort that clipped the outside of Presentation goalkeeper Marcelo Phillip’s left upright.

However, in the first minute of first half stoppage time, Bain put the Pres Lions ahead with an outrageous effort.

From 40 yards out, the midfielder unleashed a speculative effort that crashed off the underside of the crossbar before ricocheting into the goal off of Naps’ custodian, Mikhail Clement.

What the first half failed to produce in quality opportunities, the second half duly supplied. But Naparima failed to put away a number of clear-cut opportunities.

Striker Jabari Rodriguez created space for himself inside the box, but Bernard and fellow back Jimally Renne quickly closed him down, blocking the shot.

A minute later, Phillip was alert and brave enough to quickly come out of his area to head clear a dangerous pass ahead of Rodriguez.

Just past the hour, Caprietta was wide with diving header wide from a right-sided Thompson cross. And, a few minutes later, Presentation defender Kadon Elliot was on his toes to deny Caprietta again.

Presentation substitute Tyrese Harding offered some encouragement for the visitors, at one point in the second half, with a few encouraging runs down the right wing. However, his final pass lacked quality.

And Naparima were back on the front foot. But substitute Xarion France was crowded out by the opposing defence after a cross from Raymond, while Rodriguez failed to finish after an accurate, low cross from another substitute, Mikhael Bullock.

Adasa Richardson, yet another substitute, was almost Naparima’s hero in the 80^th minute, only for his mazy run from the middle of the field to end with a wide shot from about seven yards out.

Three minutes later, Jacob O’Reilly, who had a strong game in the heart of the Naps midfield, played a through ball down the centre of the field for Caprietta to run onto, clear of the defence—only for a quickly recovering Renne to pressure the winger into a weak shot, easily saved by Phillip.

Then, in time added on, the excellent Bullock swung in a cross from the left wing, only to see fellow substitute Ryan Radellant head wide, when it seemed easier to at least make Phillip save.

Presentation held firm, despite the stifling pressure from the hosts, to earn the definition of a smash-and-grab win.

“We were set up properly to deal with them, and we were disciplined enough,” coach Dunstan Williams told Wired868, after the game.

Centre back Joshua Bernard epitomised that discipline, ensuring that he was everywhere his team needed him to be, snuffing out many dangerous situations throughout the game.

Goal scorer Bain put in an impressive shift as well, shielding the defensive line while attempting to link up attacking play alongside Nikosi Foncette and Raul Perreira.

While happy about the result, Williams remained grounded in his expectations for his team this season.

“We’ve lost three games already, so the other teams that are closer to Naparima at this point in time are the teams that they have to look out for,” he said. “We just have to continue to play and see how high we can finish.

“We achieved the main thing: staying up and being around next year. We just want to see if we can finish in the top four.”

Naps manager Percy Samlalsingh took the result in stride, able to see the positives in his team’s performance.

“In the second half we got lots of clear-cut chances but just couldn’t finish,” said Samlalsingh. “Just one of those days at the office… It’s to just go back to the drawing board and work on our finishing.”

Naparima’s fate, he noted, remains in their hands.

“Five games to play,” said the Naps manager. “We need to make sure to win them.”

Teams

Naparima College (4-3-3): 1.Mikhail Clement (GK); 2.Jeremiah Daniel, 3.Elijah Edwards, 4.Antonio Hills, 24.Sebastian James; 22.Shabani Thompson (14.Mikhael Bullock 63), 21.Jacob O’Reilly, 8.Jerrel Cooper (captain) (11.Adasa Richardson 63); 23.Arron Raymond (10.Xarion France 63), 9.Jabari Rodriguez (7.Ryan Radellant 85), 5.Jaydon Caprietta.

Unused substitutes: 25.Adriano Baptiste (GK), 6.Camron Bovell, 15.Seth Eve, 19.Darius Procope, 27.Donovan Drayton.

Coach: Angus Eve.

Presentation College (3-4-1-2): 1.Marcelo Phillip (GK); 5.Kadon Elliott, 14.Joshua Bernard, 3.Jimally Renne; 7.Roshaun Doobay (11.Gabriel Collins 71), 9.Josiah Bain, 6.Nikosi Foncette, 12.Mahkaya Mahon; 13.Raul Perreira (19.Kwesi Seales 80); 10.Isaiah Jacob (captain), 16.Kyron Baptiste (15.Tyrese Harding 62).

Unused substitutions: 28.Renaldo Lee (GK), 17.Aaron Clement, 18.Josiah Stewart, 20.Aidan Sinanan-McDonald, 21.Oshea Watson, 23.Aden Montano, 25.Luke Jagdeo.

Coach: Dunstan Williams.

Referee: Cecile Hinds.

SSFL Premier Division results

(Wed 22 October)

Naparima College 0, Presentation (San F’do) 1 (Josiah Bain 45+1) at Lewis Street;

Fatima College 6 (Jonathan Mason 13, Jahaem Bailey 19 pen, 37, Phillip Mason 22, 53, 85), Arima North 4 (Jadon Pollard OG 48, Cristiano Hinds 66, 75, Hasheem Hill 79 pen) at Mucurapo Road;

Malick Secondary 3 (Jahda Riley 50, Xavier Caruth OG 62, Jaquan Phillip 71 pen), QRC 3 (Jordan Grant 27, Jalano Straker 65, Josh Thavenot 90) at QRC grounds;

Trinity College 4 (Jaeden Samuel 24, 45, 66, Anton Joseph 65), St Augustine Secondary 2 (Israel Leonsing 7, Giovanni Hospedales 85) at Moka;

St Anthony’s College 2 (Jean-Marc Thomas 5, Adriel Faure 62), San Juan North 1 (Jaheem Danclar 61) at Westmoorings;

Carapichaima East 1 (Zion Thompson 1), St Benedict’s College 12 (Jaylon Forbes 13, 26, 50, Jelani Stoute 19, 33, Camron Burke 31, Josiah Ochoa 40, 45+2, 71, 76, 90+2, Thane Devenish 81 pen) at Mannie Ramjohn Stadium.

Upcoming fixtures

(Sat 25 October)

St Benedict’s College v St Anthony’s College, 3.30pm, Mahaica Sporting Complex;

Fatima College v Presentation (San F’do), 3.30pm, Mucurapo Road;

Arima North v Trinity East, 3.30pm, Arima Velodrome;

San Juan North v Naparima College, 3.30pm, Bourg Mulatresse;

(Tue 28 October)

Arima North v Trinity College, 3.30pm, Arima Velodrome;

St Anthony’s College v Naparima College, 3.30pm, Westmoorings;

Carapichaima East v Fatima College, 3.30pm, Ato Boldon Stadium;

Trinity East v QRC, 3.30pm, Trincity;

Presentation (San F’do) v St Augustine Secondary, 3.30pm, Mannie Ramjohn Stadium;

St Benedict’s College v Malick Secondary, 3.30pm, Mahaica Sporting Complex;

San Juan North v St Mary’s College, 3.30pm, Bourg Mulatresse;

Signal Hill Sec v Scarborough Secondary, 3.30pm, Signal Hill.

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