SSFL 25: “Saints” and QRC play to a thrilling 2-all draw; ‘Naps’ thump Trinity East

Naparima College set down an early marker for the 2025 Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) season today, as they thumped Trinity College East 7-0 at Lewis Street, San Fernando on the first competitive day of the term.

It was one of three wins today—all for the home schools.

At Moka, Trinity College dispatched fellow newly promoted team Carapichaima East Secondary 4-1 while St Augustine Secondary rebounded from a goal down to edge Malick Secondary 2-1 at Warren Street.

Scarborough Secondary, the third promoted team, twice came from behind to hold Arima North Secondary 3-3 at Shaw Park in the only fixture on the Sister Isle.

And, at Serpentine Road, St Mary’s College and Queen’s Royal College (QRC) played to an action-packed 2-2 draw in an affair that was worthy of the storied rivalry between the two old colleges.

QRC were quicker out of the blocks and established early that they journeyed across St Clair to collect all three points.

Attacker Jasai Theophilus made the first statement of intent, clattering into ‘Saints’ keeper Donnell Thomas—just 44 seconds into the game.

There were plenty of crunching tackles from both teams, as is typical of such derbies. But, early on, QRC showed quality and attack purposefulness to go with that.

Wingback Zayne Colthrust narrowly missed his header off a freekick from defender Zain Griffith in the fourth minute, which might have produced the opening goal.

However, in the 13^th minute, QRC’s sustained pressure paid off. Theophilus collected a short corner kick and his pinpoint cross was well met by an Elijah Noel header, to give his team the lead.

St Mary’s eventually settled and put together a couple of promising moves, as they began to get forward Jaylon Manswell involved. But they lacked the conviction of their opponents to really cause problems.

At the half hour mark, Thomas had to go full stretch to keep out an effort by QRC attacking midfielder Zion Aberdeen who got half a yard of space just inside the opposing box.

QRC right wing back Gervais Frederick and forward Jahseem Pierre were threatening down the right wing, and the latter player cut in on opposing defender Darius Humphrey to beat Thomas on his near post.

QRC, still aggressive and persistent, could have had a third as Theophilus broke clear, only to be denied by a last-ditch tackle from St Mary’s midfielder Joshua Miguel.

Although, late in the first half, Manswell did give some encouragement to the home supporters with a header, off a corner kick, that caught opposing goalkeeper and captain Jahiem Affan stranded—only to drift just wide.

St Mary’s picked up their intensity in the second half, while QRC players started pulling up with cramps.

Midfielder Finn de Freitas forced a fantastic reaction save from Affan in the 48^th minute. And, 12 minutes later, the Saints were finally rewarded for their endeavour, as attacker Josiah Hunte nipped in front of marker Zain Griffith to slot the ball past Affan and spark wild celebrations from the home supporters.

St Mary’s threw everything at their opponents—the pace so frenetic that players from both teams needed treatment for cramping muscles.

Despite the pressure the “Royalians” held tight and looked set to seal a hard-fought win.

But, in the seventh minute of second half stoppage time, the diminutive Hunte got his head to an Ihsan Miller cross to head home a dramatic equaliser.

Referee O’Brien called an end to a thrilling match, three minutes later, with both sets of fans feeling they deserved more.

St Mary’s head coach Cornell Glen gave credit to his young team’s performance, despite a preseason that was less than ideal.

“I can’t be more proud of the boys,” said Glen, a former Trinidad and Tobago international standout and 2006 World Cup forward. “We are trying to build a team. The boys started off a bit slow today, not sure if it was nerves. We had a lot of guys make their debut today.

“At the half, we told them don’t give up because even though I thought we started off really slow, we had lots of good moments. So, hats off to the boys.”

QRC assistant coach Stefan Theophilus suggested that his team’s lack of match fitness cost them two points.

“Unfortunately, the changes we made weren’t tactical changes—a lot of the players started to catch cramp,” Theophilus told Wired868. “The intensity of first round games tends to get to the body.”

Glen suggested that his own charges should be more physically ready by the third match day while Theophilus is also confident QRC would be stronger still as their players’ match fitness increases.

QRC will hope the workout at Serpentine Road serves them on Wednesday when they travel to meet St Benedict’s College, while the Saints have a second successive home match—as they host Carapichaima East Secondary.

(Teams)

St Mary’s College (4-3-3): 1.Donnell Thomas (GK); 18.Isaiah Morris (captain) (12.Ihsan Miller 76), 4.Khaleil Serrette, 6.Darius Humphrey, 5.Jaylon Roberts; 10.Finn De Freitas (14.Jalen Hislop 84), 15.Eran Mc Leod, 7.Joshua Miguel; 11.Nadeem Grant (19.Deron Blackman 90+2), 9.Jaylon Manswell (3.Raheim London 90+2), 8.Josiah Hunte.

Unused substitutes: 22.Josiah Superville (GK).

Coach: Cornell Glen.

QRC (3-4-1-2): 22.Jaheim Affan (GK, captain); 17.Zain Griffith (18.Dakari St Hillaire 60), 2.Xavier Caruth, 4.Josiah Thompson; 13.Gervais Frederick (7.Neomiah Thompson 76), 16.Elijah Noel, 6.Shazard Nabbie, 12.Zayne Colthrust (19.Kai Williams 76); 10.Zion Aberdeen (15.Jalano Straker 59); 9.Jahseem Pierre (20.Samson Williams 76), 11.Jasai Theophilus.

Unused substitutes: 1.Nathaniel Peters (GK), 5.Jadel Henry.

Coach: Kenwyne Jones

Referee: CJ O’Brien.

Round One results

(Sat 13 September)

St Mary’s College 2 (Josiah Hunte 59, 90+6), QRC 2 (Elijah Noel 13, Jahseem Pierre 38) at Serpentine Road;

Scarborough Sec 3 (Jaden Pope 13, 67, Tyrese Neptune 39), Arima North 3 (Zion Metivier 20, Darren De Four 37, Cristiano Hinds 59) at Scarborough ground;

Naparima College 7 (Arron Raymond 6, 23, 65, Jabari Rodriguez 36, Jayden Caprietta 53, Jerrel Cooper 56, Malik Charles 78), Trinity East 0 at Lewis Street;

St Augustine Sec 2 (Giovanni Hospedales 45+1, Shumba Cudjoe 79), Malick Secondary 1 (Jahda Riley 23) at Warren Street;

Trinity College 4 (Jediah David 23, 69, 87, Jamiel Chandler 84), Carapichaima East 1 (Damarion Boswell 74) at Trinity Moka.

Postponed fixtures

(Sat 25 October)

St Benedict’s College v St Anthony’s College, 3.30pm, TBA;

Fatima College v Presentation (San F’do), 3.30pm, Mucurapo Road;

San Juan North v Signal Hill Sec, 3.30pm, Bourg Mulatresse.

Upcoming fixtures

(Wed 17 September)

Arima North v Naparima College, 3.30pm, Arima Velodrome;

Scarborough Sec v Fatima College, 3.30pm, Scarborough ground;

Presentation (San F’do) v Trinity East, 3.30pm, Mannie Ramjohn Stadium;

St Anthony’s College v Malick Secondary, 3.30pm, Westmoorings;

St Benedict’s College v QRC, 3.30pm, TBA;

St Mary’s College v Carapichaima East, 3.30pm, Serpentine Road;

Signal Hill Sec v Trinity College, 3.30pm, Signal Hill;

San Juan North v St Augustine Sec, 3.30pm, Bourg Mulatresse.