SSFL 25: Mordecai stuns ‘Naps’; as St Anthony’s triumph—to send St Benedict’s tops

St Anthony’s College and Naparima College served up a five-goal thriller this afternoon, as the southern giants squandered a two-goal lead before a stunning hat-trick from captain Mordecai Ford turned the tide in yet another dramatic, two-halved encounter of this Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Premier Division season.

At the final whistle, the “Westmoorings Tigers” prevailed as Naparima’s winless run was extended to three matches—and the implications of that were immediate. For the first time this season, “Naps” no longer head the standings.

Remarkably, St Benedict’s College, who were sixth just over two weeks ago, have seized control at the business end of the season.

The “La Romaine Lions” held off Malick Secondary 3-1 at the Mahaica Sporting Complex to leapfrog Naparima to first place today. And it is Fatima College who are second, thanks to an 11-0 demolition of bottom placed Carapichaima East Secondary, while Naps are now third.

Naparima are two points shy of St Benedict’s and lead fourth placed Presentation College (San Fernando) only by goal difference.

At the other end of the table, Trinity College East secured a precious point at home against Queen’s Royal College, courtesy two second half stoppage time goals from Dexter Croal and Akeem Abdallah respectively.

Trinity East are now 11th on the 16-team table with 10 points, although they are just one point better than relegation-threatened St Augustine Secondary, who were spanked 8-0 by Presentation College (San Fernando) at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella.

At Westmoorings, Naparima initially looked capable of making a statement themselves.

They started the stronger of the teams, with their stifling press forcing the hosts into repeated turnovers. From as early as the third minute, St Anthony’s goalkeeper Necose Moore was forced into a fine save to deny lively Naparima winger Arron Raymond after one such error.

It got much worse before it got better, as St Anthony’s captain, Ford, received the ball near the half line and, inexplicably, turned backwards to play a perfect back pass (if you were a Naparima supporter) into the path of Naps attacker Riquelme Phillips.

Phillips composed himself before slotting the ball to the right of Moore to give Naps a deserved lead, after just eight minutes.

The visitors continued to press the St Anthony’s midfield with Jacob O’Reilly next to force a turnover, which rolled nicely into Phillips’ path—only for the striker to blaze over from about 20 yards out.

Moore produced another important save just before the halftime interval, as he dived at full stretch to keep out a fierce free kick from imposing Naparima centre back Antonio Hills.

St Anthony’s coach Ronald Daniel introduced Jaeden Bobb and Jean-Marc Thomas for the start of the second half.

“I brought on the normal strikers off the bench and they gave us more inspiration to go forward,” Daniel told Wired868.

But the Tigers did not start the second half well either.

Three St Anthony’s defenders failed to properly clear a Shabani Thompson throw in, which allowed Raymond to chip a cross to the last post. And, cutting in off the other flank, Jaydon Caprietta had time to settle the ball before drilling into the left side of the goal.

A two-goal lead appeared to settle the game for the dominant visitors. But Ford and his teammates had other ideas.

Just past the hour mark, Tigers’ centre midfield, Jaimarley John cleared the ball to Ford near the half line, who in turn slipped a pass to Bobb on the wing. And Bobb got past Thompson and into the opposing box, where he was brought down by Naparima centre back Elijah Edwards.

Ford stepped up to slot the resultant spot kick to the left of Naps goalkeeper Mikhail Clement and breathe life back into the contest.

In the 75th minute, Ford turned the match on its head. He earned a freekick just outside the box and, this time, curled his effort over the wall into the top right corner of the goal—with Clement a mere spectator—to send St Anthony’s supporters into ecstasy.

With three minutes of regular time remaining, John earned a freekick in a similar position.

Thompson retreated to his goal line to assist Clement. But it didn’t matter. Ford curled the ball sublimely to the keeper’s left, to clear their substitutes’ bench—as they ran on the field to celebrate.

Naparima coach Angus Eve could only look on with a wry smile.

The full-time whistle brought wild celebrations from the Westmoorings team and their supporters. And there was a new school in the Premier Division’s driver seat.

SSFL Premier Division results

(Tuesday 28 October)

(Tue 28 October)

St Anthony’s College 3 (Mordecai Ford 62 pen, 75, 87), Naparima College 2 (Riquelme Phillips 8, Jaydon Caprietta 46) at Westmoorings;

San Juan North 1 (Malique Marrast 41), St Mary’s College 2 (Jamari Gilkes 16, Finn De Freitas 74) at Bourg Mulatresse;

Arima North 2 (Hirshil Parks 48, Darren De Four 83 pen), Trinity College 3 (Jaeden Samuel 18, Anton Joseph 37, 63) at Arima Velodrome;

Carapichaima East 0, Fatima College 11 (Jonathan Mason 12, 36, 37, Phillip Nelson 22, 31, Thomas Decle 24, Jahaem Bailey 30, 35, Jeremai Nanton 75, Reagan Rowe 80, Seth Hadeed 89) at Fatima College ground;

Trinity East 2 (Dexter Croal 90+4, Akeem Abdallah 90+5), QRC 2 (Jasai Theophilus 48, Jahseem Pierre 90+1) at Trincity;

Presentation (San F’do) 8 (Kyron Baptiste 4, Isaiah Jacob 23, 64 pen, 76, Tyrese Harding 33, Josiah Bain 52, 59, Josiah Stewart 61), St Augustine Secondary 0 at Mannie Ramjohn Stadium;

St Benedict’s College 3 (Anest De Silva OG 11, Cam’ron Burke 13, Elijah David 19), Malick Secondary 1 (Jaquan Phillip 77) at Mahaica Sporting Complex;

Signal Hill Sec 4 (J’meke Watkins 4, Immanuel Wright 17, Jahmiah Gibbs 75, Kyle James 90), Scarborough Secondary 1 (Jayden Pope 31) at Signal Hill.

2025 Premier Division

Pos	Club	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	Naparima	15	12	1	2	42	8	34	37
2	St Benedict's	15	12	0	3	45	13	32	36
3	Signal Hill	15	11	1	3	48	17	31	34
4	Presentation	15	11	1	3	40	11	29	34
5	Fatima	15	10	2	3	48	24	24	32
6	St Anthony's	15	8	1	6	30	25	5	25
7	Trinity Moka	15	7	2	6	31	35	-4	23
8	Arima North	15	6	4	5	34	27	7	22
9	QRC	15	5	4	6	23	25	-2	19
10	St Mary's	15	5	3	7	31	23	8	18
11	Trinity East	15	4	1	10	21	55	-34	13
12	Malick	15	3	3	9	30	43	-13	12
13	St Augustine	15	3	3	9	16	46	-30	12
14	San Juan	14	2	5	7	22	26	-4	11
15	Scarborough Sec	14	2	5	7	18	36	-18	11
16	Carapichaima	15	0	0	15	7	72	-65	0

Upcoming fixtures

(Fri 31 October)

Fatima College v St Anthony’s College, 3.30pm, Fatima ground;

Arima North v San Juan North, 3.30pm, UTT O’Meara Campus;

Naparima College v Signal Hill Sec, 3.30pm, Lewis Street;

Presentation (San F’do) v Carapichaima East, 3.30pm, Mannie Ramjohn Stadium;

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

Scarborough Secondary v QRC, 3.30pm, Shaw Park;

St Augustine Secondary v Trinity East, 3.30pm, Warren Street;

Malick Secondary v Trinity College, 3.30pm, TBA.

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