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St Mary’s College finally enjoyed some breathing room at the top of the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Sportt Premiership Division standings today, after a 2-1 win over defending champions Naparima College at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella.
The result—coupled with an emphatic 4-0 loss by previous table toppers, Arima North Secondary, against St Benedict’s College at the Arima Velodrome—saw the northern “Saints” move three points clear, with their title ambitions significantly boosted.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
St Benedict’s, who scored twice in each half to cap off a commanding performance on the road, leapfrogged Arima North into second place.
Fifteen-year-old attacker Jaylon Carrington got two second half goals for St Benedict’s, who were sent on their way by winger Elijah David and marshalled by fine performances from Jaylon Forbes on top and captain Emmanuel Guerra at the back.
In Tobago, Signal Hill Secondary benefitted from another controversial late penalty to edge a southern visitor.
- Presentation College (San Fernando) captain Tyrese Harding is penalised for a handled ball, in second half stoppage time against Signal Hill Secondary in Tobago.
Ackim Duncan converted the penalty to give Signal Hill a 3-2 win.
(via Tobago Sports Live.)
Last week, Naparima defender Elijah Edwards looked to have been struck on the back of his head by a cross, only for referee Keon Yorke to point to the spot. Midfield maestro Ackim Duncan converted that penalty to give Signal Hill a 2-1 win.
Today, Presentation College (San Fernando) suffered a similar fate in second half stoppage time, as their captain Tyrese Harding was adjudged to have illegally handled the ball in his own area.
Replays suggested that the ball came off Harding’s body on to his arm. Fifa law considers such a sequence to be accidental and not punishable, unless a goal comes immediately after the action.
The referee in the “Sister Isle” did not see it that way, and Duncan again scored from the spot to give Signal Hill a 3-2 win over the “Pres Lions”. It was Duncan’s third penalty in five games.
Signal Hill are now fourth, and trail St Benedict’s and Arima North by only goal difference.
Photo: Ire Charles/ Wired868.
At the other end of the standings, Queen’s Royal College climbed out of the relegation places with a 2-1 win away to San Juan North Secondary—thanks to a second half winner by Gervais Frederick.
And, off Mucurapo Road, Mucurapo West Secondary had a moment to savour as they recorded their first ever Premiership triumph, with a 3-1 win over Speyside Secondary.
Mucurapo West and QRC are now in 10th and 11th spot respectively on the 17-table standings, with five points from as many games. Naparima, who are yet to win since their opening match of the season, are 12th with four points—although they have played a game less than Mucurapo West and QRC.
Photo: Ire Charles/ Wired868.
The bottom four schools, placed 14th to 17th, will be demoted at the end of the season.
St Anthony’s College also got their first positive result of this term today, with a draw at home against Trinity College (Moka). But it was not enough to take the “Westmoorings Tigers” from off the foot of the table.
Trinity (Moka) had a much better day than their eastern counterparts, Trinity College East, although the latter school got off to a dream start on Mucurapo Road.
Photo: Ire Charles/ Wired868.
Former national youth winger Elijah Diaz put the “Blue Hawks” ahead after just seven minutes against Fatima College. But Fatima had a response ready.
The Nanton brothers, Jeremai and 14-year-old Jiair, got a goal each to put the hosts ahead by the interval. And another Jeremai item in the second half, plus a late double by Jahaem “Yellows” Bailey, ensured an ultimately comfortable result for Fatima.
Another East Zone school suffered a thumping today, as St Augustine Secondary fell 5-1 to Malick Secondary at St Mary’s College ground on Serpentine Road.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
Jahda Riley scored twice for Malick, who moved from 12th to ninth in the standings, while St Augustine, who got a consolation item from captain Shumba Cudjoe, drifted from 12th to 14th.
Combined, east Trinidad schools scored three times today while conceding 16 goals. Hillview College were on a bye.
Hillview, incidentally, travel to St Mary’s College ground when action resumes on Saturday. The stakes could not be higher, for both schools.
Photo: Ire Charles/ Wired868.
SSFL Premiership Division results
(Wed 30 Sep)
San Juan North Secondary 1 (Gabriel Forde 29), Queen’s Royal College 2 (Samson Williams 14, Gervais Frederick 73) at San Juan North;
Naparima College 1 (Antonio Hills 51), St Mary’s College 2 (Deron Blackman 8, Jaedon Thomas 45) at Lewis Street;
Arima North Secondary 0, St Benedict’s College 4 (Elijah David 8, Samuel Balfour 17, Jaylon Carrington 78, 90+1) at Arima Velodrome;
Malick Secondary 5 (Jahda Riley 35, 40, Keisean Spence 61, Giovani Hosanny 75, Joshua Portell 86), St Augustine Secondary 1 (Shumba Cudjoe 62) at Serpentine Road;
Fatima College 5 (Jeremai Nanton 11, 63, Jiair Nanton 42, Jahaem Bailey 84, 90), Trinity College East 1 (Elijah Diaz 7) at Fatima ground;
Mucurapo West Secondary 3, Speyside Secondary 1 at Mucurapo West;
Signal Hill Secondary 3 (J’meke Watkins 35, 82, Ackim Duncan 90+4 pen), Presentation (San F’do) 2 (Aden Montano 65, Tyrese Harding 71) at Signal Hill;
Trinity College 1, St Anthony’s College 1 at Moka;
Hillview College are on a bye.
2026 Premiership Standings
| Pos | Club | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  St Mary's | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 3 | 13 | 15 |
| 2 |  St Benedict's | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 3 | 11 | 12 |
| 3 |  Arima North | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 18 | 9 | 9 | 12 |
| 4 |  Signal Hill | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 5 | 8 | 12 |
| 5 |  Hillview | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 18 | 10 | 8 | 9 |
| 6 |  Fatima | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 16 | 12 | 4 | 8 |
| 7 |  Trinity College | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 14 | -5 | 7 |
| 8 |  Speyside | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 19 | -11 | 7 |
| 9 |  Malick | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 12 | 12 | 0 | 6 |
| 10 |  Mucurapo W | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 11 | -4 | 5 |
| 11 |  QRC | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 7 | -4 | 5 |
| 12 |  Naparima | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 6 | 5 | 4 |
| 13 |  Presentation | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 8 | -2 | 4 |
| 14 |  St Augustine | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 13 | -5 | 4 |
| 15 |  San Juan | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 13 | -6 | 3 |
| 16 |  Trinity East | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 17 | -10 | 3 |
| 17 |  St Anthony's | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 16 | -11 | 1 |
Upcoming fixtures
(Sat 3 Oct)
Mucurapo West Sec vs Presentation (San F’do), 3.40pm, Mucurapo West;
Arima North Secondary vs Fatima College, 3.40pm, Arima Velodrome;
Naparima College vs Speyside Secondary, 3.40pm, Lewis Street;
Queen’s Royal College vs St Benedict’s College, 3.40pm, QRC;
Signal Hill Secondary vs San Juan North Secondary, 3.40pm, Signal Hill;
St Augustine Secondary vs Trinity College, 3.40pm, St Augustine;
St Mary’s College vs Hillview College, 3.40pm, Serpentine Road;
Trinity College East vs St Anthony’s College, 3.40pm, Trinity East;
Malick Secondary are on a bye.
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