Scarborough down “P-ville” to near Premier promotion; Big 5 on knife’s edge

Scarborough Secondary are just one point away from an unprecedented spot in the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Premier Division, after a 3-1 win over Pleasantville Secondary in Big 5 action at Shaw Park yesterday.

The result did not have an immediate effect on the league placings. However, it moved Scarborough Secondary (four points, +1 goal differential) to within one point of the top three schools: Carapichaima East Secondary (five points, +2 GD), Trinity College (Moka) (five points, +1 GD), and Hillview College (five points, +0 GD).

The top three teams at the end of the competition, which has one outstanding round, qualify automatically for the 2025 Premier Division, where they will replace the relegated trio of Miracle Ministries Pentecostal High School, East Mucurapo Secondary and Speyside Secondary.

Pleasantville Secondary now have no chance of returning to the top flight, although their last match, at home against the visiting Trinity College, can still be crucial to the outcome of the competition.

On Friday 29 November 2024, Pleasantville travelled to Scarborough for what was already a rescheduled fixture, only for the match to stop prematurely after roughly 70 minutes—due to a power outage. The teams were locked at one goal apiece at the time.

It took six weeks for Pleasantville to arrange a return to Tobago and, this time, they had a rougher outing on the field of play. At the end of the first half, Scarborough were already two goals clear.

Jahiem Toney opened the score summary with a headed goal, off a cross from talented 14-year-old playmaker Amar Allie Baccus. And Johan Elliott doubled Scarborough’s lead with a shot from outside the area.

“P-ville” pulled a goal back after the interval, through Jelani Roberts. It was the South Zone champion school’s first official goal of the competition.

However, Jervae Weekes restored the hosts’ two goal advantage with another headed item, this time off a Tyrese Neptune cross.

Scarborough ended with 10 players, after defender Theo Peters received a straight red card for an off the ball clash with a Pleasantville player. However, the Tobago team held on to their 3-1 advantage until the final whistle.

One more point, due to their positive goal difference, would do the trick for Scarborough. The problem is they collected all four points at home so far, while their previous trip to Trinidad ended in a 1-0 loss away to Trinity.

Can Scarborough, led by former Shiva Boys’ Hindu College coach Hayden Ryan, do the business in Carapichaima?

“I am always a humble man—I am coming to do my best,” said Ryan, who hinted that Scarborough would protest Peters’ red card.

If Carapichaima East defeat Scarborough, then the current leading three Big 5 schools qualify for the top flight.

If Scarborough and Carapichaima draw, then they would both advance—however a Pleasantville win in that scenario will mean Hillview qualify ahead of Trinity on superior goal difference.

Trinity would need a win or draw in their final match, away to Pleasantville, to be sure of returning to the SSFL’s top flight competition.

For “Caps”, they can qualify with as much as a two-goal loss to Scarborough—with a 2-0 loss, Carapichaima finish on equal goals scored and conceded against Hillview, but with the advantage of a head-to-head win over the East Zone school.

Hillview, who are on a bye for the final round, need either Pleasantville to defeat Trinity, Carapichaima to triumph over Scarborough, or Scarborough to win by three goals or more.

It is over to the SSFL fixtures committee to declare a date for the final match day now, with Scarborough presumably attempting to book flights to Trinidad at present.

2024 Big Five results

(Fri 25 October)

Pleasantville Secondary 0, Hillview College 2 (Khadell Campbell 31 pen, Kemarley Pierre 89) at Mannie Ramjohn Stadium;

Trinity College 2 (Antonio Cole 46, 61), Carapichaima East Secondary 2 (Jerel Charles 20, Teriq Langton 90+1) at Moka;

(Wed 30 October)

Hillview College 0, Trinity College 0 at Hillview;

(Sat 2 November)

Hillview College 0, Carapichaima East Secondary 2 (Kamarli Wilson 65, Darion Boswell 90+2) at Hillview;

Trinity College 1 (Anton Joseph 83), Scarborough Secondary 0 at Moka;

(Tue 5 Nov)

Scarborough Secondary 2 (Tyrese Neptune 52, Jayden Pope 55), Hillview College 2 (Tefari Kerr 48, Kemarley Pierre 90+4) at Scarborough;

Carapichaima East 0, Pleasantville Secondary 0 at Edinburgh 500;

(Thu 9 Jan)

Scarborough Secondary 3 (Jahiem Toney, Johan Elliott, Jervae Weekes), Pleasantville Secondary 1 (Jelani Roberts) at Scarborough.

Upcoming fixtures

(TBA)

Pleasantville Secondary vs Trinity College, 3.30pm, Mannie Ramjohn Stadium;

Carapichaima East Secondary vs Scarborough Secondary, 3.30pm, Presentation (Chag).

Big 5 Standings (Played-Won-Drew-Lost-Goals For-Goals Against-Points)

Carapichaima East      3-1-2-0-4-2–5

Trinity College             3-1-2-0-3-2–5

Hillview College           4-1-2-1-4-4-5

Scarborough Sec          3-1-1-1-5-4-4

Pleasantville Sec           3-0-1-2-1–5–1

Scorers

2—Kemarley Pierre (Hillview College), Antonio Cole (Trinity College);

1—Jerel Charles, Teriq Langton, Kamarli Wilson, Darion Boswell (Carapichaima East), Khadell Campbell (pen), Tefari Kerr (Hillview College), Jelani Roberts (Pleasantville Secondary), Tyrese Neptune, Jayden Pope, Jahiem Toney, Johan Elliott, Jervae Weekes (Scarborough Secondary), Anton Joseph (Trinity College).

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