RBNYFL 24: Blue Hawks end Creek’s winning streak; HVC edge Crown Trace in thriller

Blue Hawks brought Creek Sports and Cultural Club’s four-match win streak to an end as they grabbed a 2-2 draw at Balmain Recreation Ground on Saturday, in the Central Zone Boys Under-14 Division of the Republic Bank National Youth Football League (RBNYFL).

In the earlier game, HVC FC edged defending Central Zone champions Crown Trace 4-3 in a thrilling match, while Ultimate Unisons romped to a 6-1 win over Talent and Energy.

Despite the draw, Creek still lead the Central Zone from Blue Hawks and HVC, with Crown Trace just two games away from abdication.

Creek Sports and Cultural Club (SCC) won their first four games handsomely and were bidding for a fifth when they met Blue Hawks in the final game of a triple-header at Balmain.

Blue Hawks, a squad of Trinity College East students, were missing their first-, second-, and third-string goalkeepers for the match and used an outfielder to fill the breach. Still, they overpowered Creek during the opening 10 minutes, with Kymanni Nicholls hitting the bar.

The Trincity-based outfit also forced Creek goalkeeper Alejandro Bengochea into two excellent early saves.

However, against the run of play, Creek forward Aaden Jones took up a loose ball outside of the area and went past a defender before rounding the keeper to slot home for a 1-0 lead in the 12th minute.

However, Blue Hawks, coached by Brandon Cuffy, duly equalized in the 29th minute with Ilano Knights turning a defender before stabbing the ball into the corner of the net.

“We have an identity, which is that we are playing our football on the ground as best as we could,” Cuffy told Wired868, after the contest. “Once we started to get back that identity, it was very easy for us to get back into the game.”

Ten minutes later, more sustained pressure brought an error from the Creek defence.

An unbalanced Cayden Pilgrim, in attempting to head a cross to safety, looped it over Creek goalkeeper Bengochea and into his own net instead.

Blue Hawks held their 2-1 lead for only two minutes into the second half before an energetic Jones fired in a brilliant equalizer.

This time, Jones took the ball from the left side of midfield and went on a mazy run that took him past several Blue Hawks defender, before pinging a right-footed shot into the top angle.

It was a goal worthy of being a match-winner—although, this weekend, it could only salvage a point for Creek.

Creek coach Lincoln Augustus felt his team deserved more from the game.

“Yes, it does feel like two points dropped,” said Augustus, who said he used six under-12 players against the Hawks. “Earlier in the first half we had some opportunities, we squandered them. If we had capitalized on the opportunities earlier, it would have been a different result now.”

Augustus was, however, pleased with his team’s effort in the match.

“The guys dug deep—they tried to do exactly what I asked them to do on the football field,” he said. “In the attacking capacity, we just needed guys with that little more power up front. We were a little weaker there in our forward line.

“So, if they stepped up more in the front line, I believed we would have won it.”

Cuffy, like Augustus, lamented spurned opportunities during the match.

“We had a couple of chances, that if they [used] the proper technique, they would have scored,” said the Hawks coach. “I would not see it as two points dropped but I would take it as I have seen the improvement, week by week, as we go along—personal improvement.”

Cuffy, who had worked with his team on personal development skills during the week, said his team showed the lessons were learned.

“I think that what we did see [during the game] was some of the personal development skills that we wanted them to show,” he said.

“Personally, in terms of the team play—since we have not done much teamwork in terms of how we are going to attack and how we play out of the back—I think they did they did as much as we showed them last term with both age groups, and they (the Trinity East U-12 and U-13 players) are combined now.”

The Blue Hawks coach says he will start working with the team on attacking play when they meet on 2 April after the Easter break.

Augustus also has his work cut out for him during the next two weeks, but he has a clear idea of what he wants when the tournament resumes.

“It is imperative that we win those last two games,” he said. “We need to get some points from those last two games to go forward.”

In the second game of the day, Dimitri Hajaree scored a late winner to take HVC FC—a squad comprised primarily of Hillview College schoolboys—to their fourth win of the season, as they edged Crown Trace FC 4-3 in Balmain.

The game opened with a breathless five minutes, studded with three goals.

Crown Trace, who lost three of their previous four matches in 2024, went ahead in the second minute when Teshawn Carrington took advantage of a defensive mistake to prod home the opener.

Barely a minute later, Hajaree played in Maliq Assing to slide home the equalizer for the Hillview boys.

And, two minutes later, Carrington was again on the spot to punish another defensive blunder and put Crown Trace up 2-1.

The small crowd at Balmain Recreation Ground had seen seven goals in a one-sided opening match, and this early goal-fest made them hungry for more.

The coaches, meanwhile, were pulling out what was left of their hair.

“We were on a winning streak and they were kind of lax so the effort was not there in the early part of the game,” said the bald HVC coach Joel Charles.

“I think the players, they weren’t composed enough, just settling the ball and making the right passes that we would have expected from them, [and] getting a proper build-up,” said short-haired Crown Trace FC coach Nicholas Griffith.

“With that now, team Hillview were able to get into the game because we weren’t possessing as much as we would have loved, to prevent them from going forward.”

HVC did take control and created a dazzling equalizer in the 12th minute.

The passing move began on the left side of midfield and ended with a ball played between the Crown Trace defenders. And Achilles Ralph passed into the net to bring the scoreline to 2-2.

HVC started to move the ball around with confidence with Sanjeev Mungal and Assing bossing the midfield.

The Hillview faithful exploded into life in the 30th minute when Crown Trace failed to deal decisively with a corner, allowing Matthew Beharry to slam in the go-ahead goal.

“I had to kind of wake them up and then they started to get into the game,” said Charles. “Then they went lax again for the team to score at the start of the second half. And then we had to turn it up again.”

Crown Trace won the Central Zone title in 2023 with a completely different Under-14 team and they would not go away.

In the second half, Crown Trace forward Adam Raymond, perhaps the youngest 12-year-old in the world, set the ground alight with a fine equalizer for his team.

The smallest boy on the field, Raymond watched as an attempted clearance from a corner fell to his feet inside the HVC six-yard box.

He feigned right before dragging the ball left and smashed it towards goal. The ball flicked off defender Luke Hernandez and flashed past the goalkeeper into the net.

Even the Hillview supporters cheered the goal as Raymond ran towards the Crown Trace bench to celebrate.

Later, he and some of his youthful teammates were seen enjoying some time on the playground climbers near the field.

Raymond’s effort was not enough to save Crown Trace from falling to their fourth defeat of the season.

Hajaree had the final say with a solo run that ended with a composed finish in the 69th minute.

The damage could have been worse, but Crown Trace FC goalkeeper Carl Housand made two spectacular saves in the dying minutes to spare his team late embarrassment.

“It’s a young side but they are showing a lot of heart and passion—I enjoy every game even though they lose sometimes,” said Griffith, with a laugh. “No, I don’t say they lose, they ran out of time!”

The Crown Trace coach chose to look at the positives from the match.

“First of all, we scored three goals, which is the most goals we’ve scored in any one game,” he said. “I think my keeper did fairly well. He had an excellent save in the last minute of the game.

“Defensively, my center back, Ajwad [Hypolite], this is the first game he has played at center back and he did a very good job. Kudos to the 12-year-old Adam Raymond who came on and scored a goal as well.”

Griffith is targeting wins against Evolution FC and Jabloteh in his team’s final two matches of the tournament.

The Hillview schoolboys are still in contention for a place in the next round of the competition with Blue Hawks and Ultimate Unisons still to come.

“We have to win the next two games to go to the nationals,” said Charles.

In the opening game, Ultimate Unisons whipped Talent and Energy 6-1.

Kymani Noel, Jaydon De Coteau, and Trevon Barnett scored for Unisons, with Matthew Parks getting the only goal for Talent and Energy.

However, Unisons’ Julius Caesar stole the spotlight with a hat-trick.

Caesar’s more famous namesake may have perished at the hands of vengeful Roman senators on 15 March, but the Unison forward found life after the Ides of March far more satisfying.

The youngster’s exploits at Balmain Recreation Ground on Saturday are easy to summarize:

He came. He saw. He plundered.

Republic Bank National Youth Football League results

Central Zone

Under-14

(Saturday 23 March)

Blue Hawks 2 (Ilano Knights 29, Cayden Pilgrim OG 39), Creek SCC 2 (Aaden Jones 11, 42) at Balmain Recreation Ground;

HVC FC 4 (Maliq Assing 3, Achilles Ralph 16, Matthew Beharry 30, Dmitri Hajaree 69), Crown Trace FC 3 (Teshawn Carrington 2, 5, Luke Hernandez OG 45) at Balmain Recreation Ground;

Ultimate Unisons 6 (Kymani Noel 25, Julius Caesar 31,72, 78, Jaydon De Couteau 57, Trevon Barnett 65), Talent & Energy FC 1 (Matthew Parks 62) at Balmain Recreation Ground;

Evolution FC 3 (Tariq Abdul-Hameed 27, Kymani Phillips 56, Amari Thomas 82), San Juan Jabloteh 0 at Balmain Recreation Ground;

Under-16

(Sunday 24 March)

Evolution FC 1 (Zion Thompson 15), FC Tigers 1 (Elijah Noel 74) at UWI SPEC;

Beatnix SC 9 (Kanye Eastman 8, Jahmarley Ellis 13, 48, 54, 56, 67, Alejandro Wattfield 37, Daniel Phillip 59, 76), Waterloo Institute 1 (Jaleel Seales 32) at UWI SPEC;

Crown Trace FC 4 (Makesi Henry 15, Tyrese Harry 50, 66, Keron George 79), MIC Matura ReUnited 1 (Kellon John 52) at UWI SPEC;

Gasparillo Youths 2 (Aiden Charles 12, Malerky Fraser 73), HEART Academy 1 (Jaheed Maglonie) at UWI SPEC;

Under-20

(Saturday 23 March)

Cooper’s Coaching Academy 1 (Dusan Cooper 27 pen), Talent & Energy FC 0 at Frederick Settlement;

Crown Trace FC 3 (Josiah Isaac 7, Malique Ryan 29, Samuel Allen-Job 62), MIC Matura ReUnited 1 (Jamell Cooper 39) at Frederick Settlement;

Blue Hawks 4, Kamillionare FC 2 at Frederick Settlement;

Prison FC 0, Evolution FC 0 at Frederick Settlement;

East Zone

Under-14

(Saturday 23 March)

Trincity Nationals 12 (Andreas Pacheco 6, 7, 57, 65, Eli-Akim Nelson 10, 15, 70, Naeem Maxwell 37, 39, Mustapha Lezama 55, 67, Jeremiah Francois OG 64), MIC Matura ReUnited 0 at Republic Bank Sports Ground;

World Class 1 (Javan Smith OG 44), Arima Araucans 0 at Republic Bank Sports Ground;

Beatnix SC 2 (Devonte Saldenha 18, 53), Maloney RF FC 0 at Republic Bank Sports Ground;

FC Ginga 1, FC Santa Rosa 0 at Republic Bank Sports Ground;

Under-16

(Sunday 24 March)

HVC FC 4 (Jaylen Hinds 10, 17, Ky’mani Prieto 25, Sanjiv Joseph 80), Ultimate Unisons 0 at UWI Admin Ground;

FC Ginga 4 (Antuan Louison 9, Criston Gomez 30, Darren De Four 73, 77), FC Santa Rosa 0 at UWI Admin Ground;

Creek 0, Arima Araucans 3 (Kafense McKell 17, Cristiano Hinds 32, Garrick Thomas 69) at UWI Admin Ground;

World Class 4 (Renco Hernandez 10, 74, Marcel Valentine 36, Shumba Cudjoe 39), PUFA 0 at UWI Admin Ground;

Under-20

(Saturday 23 March)

Beatnix SC 1 (Tyrell Stapleton 17), PUFA 0 at UWI;

HVC FC 2 (Juninho La Fleur 35, Joshua Green 65), Maloney RF FC 0 at UWI;

AIA 1 (Kyle Dwarika 45+1), FC Ginga 0 at UWI;

Malabar Young Stars 7 (Jubrili Williams 45, 61, Jeremiah Williams 54, 74, 83, Nathan Plaza 68, Jerrel Joseph 85), Kick Start FC 0 at UWI;

North Zone

Under-14

(Saturday 23 March)

City FC 5 (Jeremai Nanton 42, 44, 50, 73, Reagan Rowe 45), Santa Cruz Utd 1 (Jacob Hills 33) at Moka;

Cardinals FA 5 (Kayden Moraldo 6, Jaylon Roberts 38, Malik Perry OG 41, Mathias McCarthy 62, Deron Blackman 74), Belmont AFE 1 (Isaiah Subero 53) at Moka;

Project Pro 8 (Scott Abraham 17, Andre Constantine 26, 30, 75, Angelo Eifell 33, 64, Terry Harris 60, Luke Ferreira 66), First Kick Academy 0 at Moka;

Pro Series 5 (Jibreel Williams 51, Devon Prince 64, Kaleb Gocking 67, Liam La Fleur 79, Xavier Barrow 80), Dibe Dragons 1 (Rahmone Edwards 39) at Moka;

Under-16

(Sunday 24 March)

Trendsetter Hawks 14 (Khadeem Morrison 2, 78, Jahda Riley 6, 9, 71, Keysan Haynes 22, 73, Jaquan Phillip 39, 50, 77, Hezekiah Charles 52, Kewenis Saunders 67 pen, Gershom Chase 64, Makai Simmons 69), Blue Hawks 1 (Xavier Maricheau 29) at Moka;

Pro Series 6 (Jaedan Samuel 38, Gervais Frederick 40, Rojinio Garcia 46, Jaseem Celestine 57, Jasai Theophilus 65, Hashim Portillo 69), Project Pro 0 at Moka;

City FC 3 (Anthony Mansoor 8, Nadeem Grant 23, Keston Richards 40), Cardinals FA 0 at Moka;

Santa Cruz Utd 1 (Jamalludin Blandin 67), Prison FC 0 at Moka;

Under-20

(Saturday 23 March)

Boyce Sports CC 7 (Amenhotep Harper 14, Calsan Stowe 16, Roeshawn Small 28, Jeremiah Andrews 45+1, 48, 58, Ajani Andrews 63), Santa Cruz Utd 1 (Adrian Martin 69) at Moka;

Pro Series 7 (Jaheim Bailey 25, 71, Lendell Baptiste 49, 57, Jesus Bleasdell OG 75, Isaiah Morris OG 81, Elija Wong 82), Cardinals FA 1 (Roger Kirk 55) at Moka;

First Kick Academy 8 (Isaiah Streete 7, 34, Jamarli Mootoo 33, Ronaldinho Richards 38, 40, 78, 79, Jaheim Joseph 77), Extreme FC 4 (Jerome Patterson 28, Nahiem Vanderpool 39, Jordan Simmons 40, 75) at Moka;

South Zone

Under-14

(Saturday 23 March)

Union Hall Utd 9 (Jeduthun Emptage 2, 49, 58, Djoshua Cyrus 15, Ailan Ali 19, 22, Samuel Balfour 26, Sherkeel Campbell 42, Josiah Huggins 79), Sando SA 0 at Guapo Recreation Ground;

Premier SC 9 (Tariq Martin 5, Micaiah Kinsale 19, Soren Shade 21, 33, 65, Nicholas Doyle 51, Malik Charles 66, Ezekiel Garcia 74, Vaasudev Ramsumair 76), Tiny Mike 0 at Guapo Recreation Ground;

Cox Coaching School 11 (Djbril Hamilton 6, 36, 69, Adasa Richardson 16, 61, 72, Jaylon Carrington 39, 59, 70, 75 Javon St Bernard 42), Smart Academy 1 at Guapo Recreation Ground;

Uprising Youths 4 (Jamali Mitchell 27, 52, Curlon Williamson 37, Shakeem Phillip 65), GDD 1 (Aidon McDonald 19) at Guapo Recreation Ground;

Under-16

(Sunday 24 March)

Point Fortin Youth 4 (Jayden Phillip 55, Jordan Bernard 70, T’sean Simon 72, Michael Joseph 74), Premier SC 0 at Guapo Recreation Ground;

Cox Coaching School 2 (Donovan Drayton 10, Adasa Richardson 68), Dunstan Williams Academy 0 at Guapo Recreation Ground;

Union Hall Utd 8, Plaisance Park Strikers 0 at Guapo Recreation Ground;

Under-20

(Saturday 23 March)

Gasparillo Youths 3, San Juan Jabloteh 0 at La Brea Recreation Ground;

San Fernando SA 4 (Isiah Jacobs 7, 21, Merale Thomas 31, Ronaldo Cadiz 44), Penal Is Love 0 at La Brea Recreation Ground;

Union Hall Utd 4, South Star Sports 0 at La Brea Recreation Ground;

Premier SC 1 (Malachi Webb 84), Club Sando 1 at La Brea Recreation Ground;

Tobago

Under-14

(Saturday 23 March)

Bethel FC 2 (Asaih Robinson 37, Sherwyn Roberts 64), TJ’s Sporting Academy 1 (C’jay Toppin 59) at Courland Recreation Ground;

Under-16

(Sunday 24 March)

Georgia FC 9 (Kelsean Manswell 3 pen, Jaheim Toney 7, 44, Riquelme Phillip 36, 66, 70, 75, Justin Bernard 50, Tevez Smith 57), TJ’s Sporting Academy 0 at Courland Recreation Ground;

Ball Blasters YA 4, North Stars 0 at Courland Recreation Ground;

Under-20

(Saturday 23 March)

Eagles FC 3, Gray’s DSA 3 at Speyside;

Carnbee/ Mt Pleasant 5 (Kevon Sandy 15, 25, 27 pen, Jonathan Mark 49, 56), Bethel United 1 (Hassani Bobb 60) at Speyside;

Roxborough Lakers 3 (Triston Murray 32, Tyrell Moore 36, Jarlon Toppin 57), Georgia FC 2 (T’sean Washington 19 pen, Nickielle Davis 68) at Speyside;

Trinidad Girls

(Sunday 24 March)

Talent & Energy FC 5 (Aaqila Virgil 2, 10, 74, 78, Shire Dudley 34), Crown Trace 0 at Balman Recreation Ground;

Pleasantville 20 (Jalani Vincent OG 5, Nikita Gosine 37, 39, 48, 72, 77, 85, Jada Sheperd 13, 17, 34, Taianne Wylie 26, Natalia Gosine 28, 36, 44, 60, Amanda Newman 30, Joe-Nelle Jones 41, Tyiesha Mark 49, 52, Khairiyan Fortune 83), NED 0 at Balmain Recreation Ground;

MIC Matura Re-United 2 (Tyeisha Griffith 26, 83), Pro Series 1 (Mikaela Yearwood 90+1) at Republic Bank Sports Ground;

Tobago Girls

(Saturday 23 March)

Jewels SC 0, Tobago Chicas 0 at Courland Recreation Ground;

Black Panthers WSC 2 (Serenity Charles 59, Naomi Scott 66), Combined Ballerz 1 (Natanya McLaurence 56) at Courland Recreation Ground.