SSFL 26: St Mary’s held scoreless by Signal Hill in St Clair—advantage, ‘Naps’

With the finish line within sight, St Mary’s College stumbled today.

After five straight weeks at the top of the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Premiership Division standings, the “Saints” slipped into second place, with just one game remaining this season—as they were held goalless by third placed Signal Hill Secondary at Serpentine Road in St Clair.

And Naparima College, the defending champions, are in the driver’s seat for the first time in 2026.

For context, when St Mary’s first went to the head of the standings on Saturday 10 October, Naparima were sixth—two points below Arima North Secondary and ahead of Speyside Secondary by just goal difference.

Will the 2026 Premiership competition have a final plot twist on Friday 13^th?

It is hard to bet against the most successful team of the Premiership era at this stage of the season. Yet, Naparima host an in-form St Anthony’s College side, whose direct approach is arguably tailored-made for the former school’s uneven playing surface at Lewis Street, San Fernando.

The “Westmoorings Tigers”, once bottom of the standings, gave a further indication of their renewed vigour today, as they came from behind to edge Presentation College (San Fernando) 2-1 at the St Anthony’s College grounds—courtesy of a Karim Millington double.

It was St Anthony’s fifth straight win. Only Naparima (11 straight triumphs) and Hillview College (six consecutive wins) have maintained longer hot streaks at the moment.

Can St Anthony’s take a point, or more, off “Naps” on Friday?

St Mary’s would be well advised not to prematurely count three points from Friday’s visitors, San Juan North Secondary. The boys from Bourg Mulatresse, who are above the relegation zone by just goal difference, have been annual demotion-dodgers in recent years.

And the fact that San Juan’s first win of the season (they have just three victories to date) came away to St Benedict’s College suggests they can fell a giant too, under the right circumstances.

Should Naparima and St Mary’s both lose, it would open the door for Signal Hill, who are away to table proppers Trinity College East on Friday.

In St Clair, the Tobagonians came looking for a win, in a tense affair that saw momentum switch from side to side.

At one stage, Signal Hill maestro Ackim Duncan and bustling midfielder Jaden Marcelle were trying to take over middle earth with their distinctly different styles of play.

The next minute, St Mary’s flanker Nadeem Grant was testing opposing right back Nickel Williams, with his clever changes of direction.

Not for the first time, though, the Saints defence made defeat unlikely.

Signal Hill captain and forward J’meke Watkins is fast, two-footed and tireless. But he would have needed to clone himself to escape from the quartet of St Mary’s central defenders Isaiah Morris and Jaylon Roberts, defensive midfielder Eran McLeod and goalkeeper Donnell Thomas.

It is not for nothing that coach Cornell Glen’s team remain undefeated after 15 matches—the only team not to taste defeat this season—with the stingiest goals against tally of nine.

But, at the other end, the Saints just lacked the bite to make the most of the few whiffs of goal that came their way.

In the 67^th minute, substitute Deron Blackman rode an ill-judged challenge from Signal Hill defender Kyen Anderson and drove into the opposing box. He had two teammates to aim for near the penalty spot—but Blackman opted to go for goal himself.

There is no middle ground when you choose the more difficult option. You either end a hero, or a villain.

Blackman struck the upright, with the ball rebounding away from goal. All around St Clair, partisan supporters groaned.

Four minutes into stoppage time, Blackman might have atoned with a pre-assist, as he did well to single-handedly defy high pressure from Signal Hill before releasing Roberts on the overlap.

And Roberts threaded the ball into the path of their leading scorer, Jaedon Thomas, on the right side of the Signal Hill 18-yard box.

The moment called for cold, clinical decision-making. Instead, Thomas tried to hurry a left-footed cross for a better positioned teammate and spliced the ball behind for a goal kick.

Thomas beat the ground in frustration. But there was no chance for a do-over.

Referee Timothy Derry’s closing whistle followed soon after.

St Mary’s, a traditional powerhouse of the domestic schools football league, have never lifted the Premiership crown, while most of their glory days came in the last millennium.

After seven straight weeks in first place, would today’s outing against Signal Hill be the game that haunts them?

There is one more round to go—and stranger things have happened already this season.

SSFL Premiership Division results

(Tue 10 Nov)

St Mary’s College 0, Signal Hill Secondary 0 at Serpentine Road;

St Anthony’s College 2 (Karim Millington 28, 63), Presentation College (San F’do) 1 (Djoshua Cyrus 7) at St Anthony’s;

Speyside Secondary 2 (Justin Bernard 4, Jaheim Wickham 50), Malick Secondary 2 (Israel Outar 5, 7) at Speyside;

2026 Premiership Standings

Pos	Club	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	Naparima	15	12	1	2	46	10	36	37
2	St Mary's	15	11	4	0	37	9	28	37
3	Signal Hill	15	11	2	2	33	13	20	35
4	St Benedict's	16	9	4	3	41	12	29	31
5	Fatima	15	8	5	2	45	20	25	29
6	Hillview	15	9	2	4	43	24	19	29
7	Presentation	15	8	3	4	28	17	11	27
8	St Anthony's	15	7	3	5	27	25	2	24
9	Speyside	16	6	3	7	25	39	-14	21
10	Arima North	15	6	1	8	31	36	-5	19
11	Malick	16	5	2	9	36	37	-1	17
12	QRC	15	3	3	9	14	24	-10	12
13	San Juan	15	3	2	10	17	36	-19	11
14	St Augustine	15	3	2	10	23	48	-25	11
15	Trinity College	15	2	4	9	26	53	-27	10
16	Mucurapo W	15	2	2	11	15	50	-35	8
17	Trinity East	15	1	3	11	18	52	-34	6

Upcoming results

(Fri 13 Nov)

Naparima College vs St Anthony’s College, 3.30pm, Lewis Street;

St Augustine Secondary vs Fatima College, 3.30pm, St Augustine;

Trinity College East vs Signal Hill Secondary, 3.30pm, Trinity East;

Presentation (San F’do) vs Hillview College, 3.30pm, Mannie Ramjohn Stadium;

Arima North Sec vs Queen’s Royal College, 3.30pm, Larry Gomes Stadium;

Mucurapo West Sec vs Trinity College, 3.30pm, Mucurapo West;

St Mary’s College vs San Juan North Sec, 3.30pm, Serpentine Road;

St Benedict’s College are on a bye.

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Lasana Liburd

Lasana Liburd is the managing director and chief editor at Wired868.com and a journalist with over 20 years experience at several Trinidad and Tobago and international publications including Play the Game, World Soccer, UK Guardian and the Trinidad Express.