SSFL 24: ‘Zoom Zoom’ steers St Benedict’s past St Anthony’s; St Augustine win at Speyside

At the midway point of the 2024 Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Premier Division season, there is already a clear frontrunner.

St Benedict’s College pulled six points clear of the pack today, with a 2-1 win away to St Anthony’s College at Westmoorings. And, crucially, the ‘La Romaine Lions’ have already faced all but one team in the top six of the league standings.

St Benedict’s College captain Derrel Garcia (front) celebrates his winning goal against St Anthony’s College during SSFL Premier Division action at Westmoorings on 7 October 2024.
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868

Already, the title looks to be theirs to lose.

It was 1-1 at the interval today with strikes from Adam Pierre (St Benedict’s) and Mordecai Ford (St Anthony’s) cancelling each other out. But, as he did against Fatima College, flanker Derrel ‘Zoom Zoom’ Garcia conjured up a winner—as Benedict’s again found a way to settle a tight affair.

The ‘Westmoorings Tigers’ remain in sixth spot on the 16-team standings, although they have a game in hand away to seventh placed Naparima College. A win for either team could propel them to fourth place.

In today’s other rescheduled match, newly promoted East Zone team St Augustine Secondary pulled off a 2-1 win away to Speyside High—just 48 hours after they edged Trinity College East in Trincity.

St Augustine Secondary attacker Elijah Baptiste (left) tries to elude Fatima College captain and defender Yohance Atherton during SSFL Premier Division action at Warren Street, St Augustine on 23 September 2024.
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868

Flanker Elijah Baptiste got the game winner for the ‘Green Machine’, after midfielder Abraham Kirk’s opener was nullified in the second half by Speyside attacker Shyon George.

The triumph saw St Augustine soar a remarkable seven places in three days, as they climbed from inside the relegation zone to a far more comfortable eighth place.

For Speyside, who have made themselves at home in the SSFL top tier since 2019, they face a battle remain in the Premier Division now.

The ‘Country Boys’ have four points from six games along with an inferior goal differential to the four schools immediately above them: East Mucurapo Secondary (six points), Trinity College East (six points), Signal Hill Secondary (eight points), and Malick Secondary (eight points).

St Benedict’s College midfielder Lyshaun Morris (right) advances with the ball while St Anthony’s College midfielder D’Andre Reyes tries to stay close during their SSFL Premier Division contest at Westmoorings on 7 October 2024.
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868

Speyside travel to Lewis Street in San Fernando on Wednesday to tackle Naparima while St Augustine have a chance to make it three games on the trot—and effectively seal their Premier Division place for 2025—when they host East Mucurapo Secondary.

St Benedict’s College are away to a resurgent Queen’s Royal College (fifth with 13 points) in midweek while defending champions Fatima College, who are coming off of successive defeats to St Anthony’s and St Benedict’s, will hope to restart their engines when they face Signal Hill in Tobago.

Rescheduled matches

(Mon 7 Oct)

St Anthony’s College 1 (Mordecai Ford), St Benedict’s College 2 (Adam Pierre, Derrel Garcia) at Westmoorings;

Speyside High 1 (Shylon George 61), St Augustine Secondary 2 (Abraham Kirk 11, Elijah Baptiste 77) at Speyside.

2024 SSFL Premier Division

PosClubPWDLFAGDPts
115122150113938
215112233102335
315110438191933
41592428161229
51566326141224
6157352419524
7156452619722
8157172827122
9156362628-221
10156273032-220
11155191729-1216
12154381134-2315
131541102030-1013
14153392134-1312
151540111427-1312
16152112851-437

Upcoming fixtures

(Wed 9 Oct)

Naparima College v Speyside High, 3.30pm, Lewis Street;

Signal Hill Secondary v Fatima College, 4pm, Signal Hill;

Malick Secondary v San Juan North, 4pm, Westmoorings;

Arima North Secondary v Miracle Ministries PHS, 4pm, Arima Velodrome;

Presentation (San F’do) v St Mary’s College, 4pm, Mannie Ramjohn Stadium;

Queen’s Royal College v St Benedict’s College, 4pm, QRC;

St Augustine Secondary v East Mucurapo Secondary, 4pm, Warren Street;

Trinity College East v St Anthony’s College, 4pm, Trincity.

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