SSFL 25: Henry stars again, as St Augustine and St Mary’s play to thrilling tie

Two unbeaten records remained intact today as St Augustine Secondary and St Mary’s College battled to an action packed 1-1 draw in a classic game of two halves.

Third in the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Premier Division at kickoff, St Mary’s College needed three points at Warren Street to stay close to leaders Naparima College and Presentation College (San Fernando).

But St Augustine, who were sixth before this round of matches, had other ideas.

Both “Saints” dropped places due to today’s draw. But they are now the only unbeaten Premier Division teams outside of Naparima and defending champs Fatima College, as the “Pres Lions” stumbled 2-0 at the Arima Velodrome today.

Naparima won 2-0 away to Scarborough Secondary to move two points clear at the top of the standings, followed closely by Fatima and Queen’s Royal College (QRC), who defeated Trinity College East and San Juan North Secondary respectively.

And, at the other end of the standings, Malick Secondary got their first win of the season with an emphatic 6-0 triumph over Carapichaima East Secondary—a result that pushed Malick from 15^th all the way to 10^th on the 16-team table.

At Warren Street, St Augustine were faster out of the blocks with captain and playmaker Giovanni Hospedales making the CIC defence earn their keep with silky skill and a quick turn of pace, while attackers Mikel “Mouse” Murray and Shumba Cudjoe threatened on either flank.

A Murray shot that narrowly missed St Mary’s goalkeeper Donnell Thomas’ left upright was the closest that the hosts came to making their dominance count though.

In the 27^th minute, Hospedales rose highest to meet a left side Kylon Williams cross, but could only head over the bar—when he might have at least made Thomas save.

St Augustine opted for a direct approach to the game. St Mary’s, on the other hand, preferred a possession-based style that sought to draw the opposing defenders forward before slipping passes in behind.

In fact, the best chance of the half fell to the visitors, against the run of play, as midfielder Finn De Freitas finally managed to attract stand-out St Augustine centre back Michael Charles before he released attacker Josiah Hunte with a beautifully weighted pass in the 31^st minute.

Hunte rounded St Augustine goalkeeper Tyrese Henry, a former St Mary’s student, then watched in amazement as his goal-bound shot was blocked by recovering centre back Diallo Paul.

Halftime met the teams locked at 0-0.

The second half started with the western Saints pressing more aggressively. But they could not find their way past Henry, who pulled off a number of brilliant saves to keep his former team at bay.

‘Gustine’ coach Tacuma Jones admitted that they expected a testing second half from St Mary’s.

“We basically prepared for a second half team,” Jones told Wired868. “I think we did our best to contain them, but I think at the end of the day missing those opportunities in the first half cost us the game.”

Their containment centred around the performance of Henry, who could only be beaten off a penalty kick. Prior to that, Charles and Paul generally kept striker Jaylon Manswell and wingers Hunte and Deron Blackman well away from their goal.

On the hour mark, though, Blackman finally got into space behind left back Keel Joel and Charles, excellent up to this point, brought the winger down.

Referee Kwinsi Williams immediately pointed to the spot and St Mary’s captain, Eran Mc Leod, who became more influential in the second half, calmly converted to give the visitors the lead in the 63^rd minute.

Their joy was short-lived. Three minutes later, CIC centre back Khaleil Serrette—who was also having a strong game—naïvely stuck out a foot with Hospedales trapped on the baseline.

Williams again did not hesitate to point to the spot and Hospedales picked himself up to also convert from 12 yards.

From that point on, it was one-way traffic. St Mary’s substitutes Jalen Hislop and Joshua Miguel got clean looks, without success, as the visitors laid siege on the “Green Machine” goal.

The pick of them came in the 85^th minute when a one-two sequence between Hislop and Mc Leod sent Miguel on his way, only for Henry to save his one-on-one effort and Hislop’s rebound effort.

The tiring Green Machine nearly punished the visitor’s profligacy from the resulting counterattack, but Serrette stepped up to block Jayden Solozano’s effort, which had been set up by the excellent Hospedales.

In the fourth minute of time added on, Hunte sent the speedy Miguel through again, but Henry was not to be beaten.

The visitors made one more push, earning back-to-back corners, as the five minutes of stoppage time came and went. But, with Henry in superb form, there would be no change to the score—as the two teams were forced to settle for a point apiece.

St Mary’s coach Cornell Glen declined comment on the match after the final whistle.

Jones suggested that it was a bittersweet feeling for St Augustine. His troops are one of just four unbeaten schools—but three draws from five matches saw them slip one place to seventh.

“We need to start winning games,” said the St Augustine coach. “Staying unbeaten is fine, but we need to start putting points on the table.”

St Augustine travel to face another unbeaten school, Fatima College, on Saturday while St Mary’s host Arima North.

Teams

St Augustine Secondary School (4-2-1-3): 1.Tyrese Henry (GK); 2.Rovalio Douen (3.Keshaun Wright 88), 22.Diallo Paul, 5.Michael Charles, 21.Keel Joel; 6.Kylon Williams (24.Riquelme Mc Collin 63), 8.Naeem Crichlow; 11.Giovanni Hospedales (captain); 19.Mikel Murray (16.Israel Leonsing 63 [17.Jayden Solozano 77]), 10.Elijah Baptiste, 18.Shumba Cudjoe (7.Donte Gordon 58).

Unused substitutes: 26.Genesis Smartt (GK), 9.Ky-Mani Hazel, 13.Romario Sambrano, 14.Ebusim Yeelov, 23.Payton Gomez.

Coach: Tacuma Jones.

St Mary’s College (4-3-3): 1.Donnell Thomas (GK); 12.Ihsan Miller, 2.Khaleil Serrette, 6.Darius Humphrey, 5.Jaylon Roberts (11.Nadeem Grant 37); 10.Finn De Freitas (7.Joshua Miguel 71), 16.Liam Hosein (13.Liam Young 71), 15.Eran Mc Leod (captain); 19.Deron Blackman (17.Jamari Gilkes 86), 9.Jaylon Manswell (14.Jalen Hislop 50), 8.Josiah Hunte.

Unused substitutes: 22.Josiah Superville (GK), 3.Raheim London, 21.David Gopaul.

Coach: Cornell Glen.

Referee: Kwinsi Williams.

SSFL Premier Division results

(Wed 1 October)

St Augustine Sec 1 (Giovanni Hospedales 66 pen), St Mary’s College 1 (Eran Mc Leod 63 pen) at Warren Street;

St Anthony’s College 2 (Aadil Jr Abdul Hakeem 84, Jaeden Bobb 90+1), Trinity College 3 (Kelun Hernandez 23, Jaden Samuel 57, 60) at Westmoorings;

Arima North 2 (Zion Metivier 73, Darren De Four 90+5), Presentation (San F’do) 0 at Arima Velodrome;

Trinity East 1 (Elijah Diaz 68), Fatima College 3 (Jeremai Nanton 26, 75, Jonathan Mason 83) at Trincity;

Malick Secondary 6 (Jayden Roberts 32, Jaquan Phillip 45, 61 pen, Teung Burnley 55, Jiovanni Hosanny 78, 82), Carapichaima East 0 at Serpentine Road;

Scarborough Sec 0, Naparima College 2 (Antonio Hills 9, Jerrel Cooper 29) at Shaw Park;

QRC 3 (Jasai Theophilus 40 pen, Leven Assevero OG 48, Josh Thavenot 87), San Juan North 2 (Jahdel Chase-Charles 8, Jaheim Affan OG 15) at QRC ground;

Signal Hill Sec 2 (Kyle James 22, Jahmiah Gibbes 77), St Benedict’s College 3 (Adam Pierre 34, Joshua Figaro 61, Cam’ron Burke 83) at Signal Hill.

Upcoming fixtures

(Sat 4 October)

St Anthony’s College v Scarborough Sec, 3.30pm, Westmoorings;

Naparima College v Carapichaima East, 3.30pm, Lewis Street;

Fatima College v St Augustine Sec, 3.30pm, Mucurapo Road;

St Mary’s College v Arima North, 3.30pm, Serpentine Road;

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

San Juan North v Malick Secondary, 3.30pm, Bourg Mulatresse;

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

St Benedict’s College v Trinity College, 3.30pm, Mahaica Sporting Complex.