SSFL 23: S/Juan, Fatima and “Naps” stay perfect; Arima rout CIC

San Juan North Secondary saw off Presentation College (San Fernando) 2-0 at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium yesterday to keep pace with early Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Premier Division frontrunners, Naparima College and Fatima College.

Midfielder Nathan Quashie scored in either half for the Bourg Mulatresse boys who are now one of three schools with 100% records in the 2023 season, following three rounds of matches.

Naparima kept their own fire burning yesterday with a 9-0 mauling of Pleasantville Secondary, which kept the southern powerhouses atop the standings with an eye-raising goal difference of 20.

Kanye Francis grabbed a hattrick for “Naps” to set another mark as one three players who have scored in every round so far. The other two are Quashie and St Mary’s College forward Kyle Phillip.

At Mucurapo Road, Fatima College and East Mucurapo Secondary both had two wins under their belt at kick off. However, Fatima eased to the finish line with four second half goals to complete a 5-0 win—paced by a double from midfielder Justin Alcantara.

Elsewhere in the Sister Isle, defending champions St Benedict’s College got their first win of the 2023 regular season as they defeated Bishop’s High School 3-0 with items from three different forwards: Malachi Webb, Jaden Grant, and Daniel Jones.

Arima North Secondary also got off the mark in a comprehensive manner in a clash of the two newly promoted teams, as they whipped St Mary’s College 8-1 on Serpentine Road, St Clair.

Tyrell Stapleton got a first half hattrick for the “Dial Dynamos” who drew their previous two outings against Presentation and Trinity College East respectively. The “Saints” got a notable consolation from Phillip though who is yet to be kept off the score sheet by any defence this season.

Malick Secondary enjoyed the biggest triumph of round three, as they romped to a 10-0 win over Chaguanas North Secondary at QRC grounds in St Clair. There were eight different Malick scorers on the day while J’lon Mathews and Ronaldinho Richards led the way with doubles.

Meanwhile, QRC did their business on the road as captain Tau Lamsee helped them edge Trinity East 1-0 in Trincity while St Anthony’s College also tallied their first win of the new season, as they held off Speyside High 2-1 in Westmoorings.

SSFL Premier Division Round-up

(Wednesday 20 September)

East Mucurapo 0, Fatima College 5 (Justin Alcantara [2], Michael Chaves, Christian Bailey, Tom Decle) at Fatima Ground;

Malick Secondary 10 (J’lon Mathews [2], Ronaldinho Richards [2], Oba Samuel, Ackeem James pen, Malachi Woodley, Keston Richards, Jordan Ferdinand, Zackary Joseph), Chaguanas North 0 at QRC Ground;

St Mary’s College 1 (Kyle Phillip 90+3), Arima North 8 (Tyrell Stapleton 8, 15, 40, Ability Hazel 23, Darion Marfan 45 pen, 55, Jemaul Ashing 78, Theron O’Brien 90) at Serpentine Road;

Bishop’s High 0, St Benedict’s College 3 (Malachi Webb, Jaden Grant, Daniel Jones) at Plymouth Recreation Ground, 3.30pm;

Naparima College 9 (Kanye Francis [2], Tevin Pantor [2], Jaron Pascall, Terrell Rajoon, Arron Raymond, Israel Joseph, OG), Pleasantville Secondary 0 at Lewis Street, 3.30pm;

Presentation (San F’do) 0, San Juan North 2 (Nathan Quashie [2]) at Manny Ramjohn Stadium, 3.30pm;

St Anthony’s College 2 (Daniel Rose, Obadiah Eyeadelrosiyhia), Speyside High 1 (Omari Daniel) at Westmoorings, 3.30pm;

Trinity East 0, QRC 1 (Tau Lamsee) at Trincity.

2023 SSFL Premier Division

Pos	Club	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	Fatima	15	13	1	1	50	8	42	40
2	St Benedict's	15	11	2	2	51	10	41	35
3	San Juan	15	10	3	2	37	15	22	33
4	Presentation	15	9	4	2	25	8	17	31
5	Naparima	15	8	3	4	48	14	34	27
6	Arima North	15	7	5	3	24	10	14	26
7	St Anthony's	15	8	2	5	34	21	13	26
8	Malick	15	6	2	7	42	27	15	20
9	Trinity East	15	5	3	7	24	28	-4	18
10	Mucurapo	15	5	3	7	28	40	-12	18
11	QRC	15	5	2	8	30	32	-2	17
12	Speyside	15	4	5	6	18	29	-11	17
13	St Mary's	15	5	2	8	26	40	-14	17
14	Bishop's Tobago	14	1	1	12	9	45	-36	4
15	Chaguanas North	15	1	1	13	5	64	-59	4

Upcoming Fixtures

(Saturday 23 September)

Malick Secondary vs Speyside High, Serpentine Road, 3.30pm;

Bishop’s High vs Trinity East, Plymouth Recreation Ground, 3.30pm;

QRC vs San Juan North, QRC Ground, 4pm;

St Benedict’s College vs Arima North, Manny Ramjohn Stadium, 4pm;

St Anthony’s College vs St Mary’s College, Westmoorings, 4pm;

Fatima College vs Pleasantville Secondary, Fatima Ground, 4pm;

Chaguanas North vs Presentation (San F’do), Edinburgh 500, 4pm;

East Mucurapo vs Naparima College, Moka, 4pm.

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