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Defending champions Fatima College came back from behind to snatch a point against Naparima College today in an early clash of two Secondary School Football League (SSFL) Premier Division contenders at Mucurapo Road.
“Naps”, the most successful team of the Premier era with four from a possible eight titles, travelled north looking to make a statement on enemy territory and were worth their first half lead—although it came from fortuitous circumstance.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868
Young Fatima goalkeeper Shameal O’Brien would not want a second look at his handling from Jaydon Caprietta corner kick in the 51st minute, which gifted Naparima holding midfielder Darius Procope with a free header into an unguarded net.
However, Naparima goalkeeper and captain Tyrese Romain—a former Fatima student and player—did not quite have the last laugh.
In the 85th minute, Fatima substitute Michael Chaves caught the opposing defence napping with a quick lofted free kick straight down the centre for forward Luke Correia. And Correia held off Caprietta and Jeremiah Daniel—both National Under-17 defenders—to squeeze the equalising goal past Romain.
Naparima coach Reynold Carrington was not pleased about the late present for Fatima coach and birthday boy Hutson “Baba” Charles, as he bemoaned two points dropped in Mucurapo.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868
“I think in the last 15 minutes, we lost our composure,” said Carrington. “We let it slip away from us… This will definitely be a lesson for us.”
The tie means that, after just three rounds of football, there is only one school left with a 100 percent record: Presentation College (San Fernando).
The Pres Lions were inactive today as, for the second time in the past eight days, St Augustine Secondary’s home ground on Warren Street was flooded out after a downpour.
Presentation stay on six points while St Augustine are second from bottom with no points and a minus five goal differential.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868
In what SSFL officials might hope is a sign of what lies ahead, there is just one point separating the top eight teams in the Premier Division at present.
Arima North Secondary are top on goal difference after surprising leaders St Anthony’s College 3-1 at Westmoorings. But the seven-point haul by the “Dial Dynamos” is matched by Malick Secondary, St Benedict’s College and Naparima.
Presentation, San Juan North Secondary, St Anthony’s and Signal Hill Secondary have six points apiece.
San Juan North, with star attacker Lindell Sween in their squad for the first time this season, downed East Mucurapo Secondary 2-0 in Bourg Mulatrasse while Malick Secondary shot down Signal Hill 3-2 on Serpentine Road in St Clair.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868
At the other end of the standings, there were stirrings from two grand old institutions as Queen’s Royal College held off Speyside High 3-2 in St Clair while an Alejandro Harper winner saw the “Saints” edge table proppers Miracle Ministries Pentecostal High School 2-1 at Edinburgh 500.
St Mary’s will hope to make it two wins on the trot this Saturday when they host Signal Hill Secondary on Serpentine Road—in a match that will be carried live by SportsMax.
Elsewhere, there is an opportunity for six of the top seven schools to differentiate themselves with St Benedict’s hosting Naparima, Fatima travelling to face Presentation (San Fernando), while Arima North and Malick will square off at the Arima Velodrome.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868
Meanwhile, St Augustine will hope its third time a charm on Warren Street as, weather permitting, they try to play at home for the first time this season against visiting St Anthony’s.
SSFL Premier Division results
(Wed 18 Sep)
Fatima College 1 (Luke Correia 85), Naparima College 1 (Darius Procope 41) at Mucurapo Road;
Malick Secondary 4 (Tyrese Manswell [3], Ronaldinho Richards), Signal Hill Secondary 2 (Kyle James, Jaden Richardson) at Serpentine Road;
Miracle Ministries PHS 1 (Kyle Holder 21), St Mary’s College 2 (Joshua Charlerie 13, Alejandro Harper 57) at Edinburgh 500;
Queen’s Royal College 3 (Philip Nelson [2], Aydon Caruth), Speyside High 2 (Shyon George [2]) at QRC;
San Juan North 2 (Malique Marrast 65, Jardiel Joseph 81 pen), East Mucurapo Secondary 0 at Bourg Mulatrasse;
St Anthony’s College 1 (Terique Theobald 66), Arima North Secondary 3 (Micha’el John 31, Dimitre Jones 50, Tyrell Stapleton 71) at Westmoorings;
St Benedict’s College 2 (Josiah Ochoa [2 pen]), Trinity College East 1 (Khaleem Prince) at Mahaica Sporting Complex.
2024 SSFL Premier Division
| Pos | Club | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Fatima | 15 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 50 | 11 | 39 | 38 |
| 2 |  Presentation | 15 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 33 | 10 | 23 | 35 |
| 3 |  St Anthony's | 15 | 11 | 0 | 4 | 38 | 19 | 19 | 33 |
| 4 |  St Benedict's | 15 | 9 | 2 | 4 | 28 | 16 | 12 | 29 |
| 5 |  Arima North | 15 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 26 | 14 | 12 | 24 |
| 6 |  QRC | 15 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 24 | 19 | 5 | 24 |
| 7 |  Naparima | 15 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 26 | 19 | 7 | 22 |
| 8 |  San Juan | 15 | 7 | 1 | 7 | 28 | 27 | 1 | 22 |
| 9 |  Signal Hill | 15 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 26 | 28 | -2 | 21 |
| 10 |  Malick | 15 | 6 | 2 | 7 | 30 | 32 | -2 | 20 |
| 11 |  St Mary's | 15 | 5 | 1 | 9 | 17 | 29 | -12 | 16 |
| 12 |  St Augustine | 15 | 4 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 34 | -23 | 15 |
| 13 |  Trinity East | 15 | 4 | 1 | 10 | 20 | 30 | -10 | 13 |
| 14 |  Speyside | 15 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 21 | 34 | -13 | 12 |
| 15 |  Mucurapo | 15 | 4 | 0 | 11 | 14 | 27 | -13 | 12 |
| 16 |  Miracle Ministries | 15 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 8 | 51 | -43 | 7 |
Upcoming fixtures
(Sat 21 Sep)
St Augustine Secondary v St Anthony’s College, 4pm, Warren Street;
East Mucurapo Secondary v Speyside Secondary, 4pm, Mucurapo Road;
Miracle Ministries PHS v Queen’s Royal College, 4pm, Edinburgh 500;
Presentation (San F’do) v Fatima College, 4pm, Mannie Ramjohn Stadium;
St Benedict’s College v Naparima College, 4pm, Mahaica Sporting Complex;
St Mary’s College v Signal Hill Secondary, 3.30pm, Serpentine Road;
Trinity College East v San Juan North, 4pm, Trincity;
Arima North Secondary v Malick Secondary, 4pm, Arima Velodrome.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868
(Mon 23 Sep)
St Augustine Secondary v Fatima College, 3.30pm, Warren Street.
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