SSFL 25: St Anthony’s rain goals on Scarborough as Jean-Marc grabs a hattrick

St Anthony’s College produced their most emphatic performance of a stuttering 2025 campaign to date, with a 7–1 dismantling of a hapless Scarborough Secondary on a Jekyll and Hyde surface at Westmoorings in the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Premier Division.

In searing heat, the “Westmoorings Tigers” notched four goals in the first 22 minutes, before adding three more in the second half—despite the pitch deteriorating sharply after a monsoon-like shower during the interval.

Jean-Marc Thomas grabbed the headlines with a sparkling hat-trick in the Tigers’ most fluent attacking display of the season.

The match was a critical bottom-of-the-table fixture, and the home team seized the opportunity to breathe new life into their campaign, moving clear of the relegation zone.

However, Scarborough’s winless run extends through another dismal weekend, and they sink further into the quagmire.

Elsewhere, defending champions Fatima College kept the heat on leaders Naparima College by whipping St Augustine Secondary 5-1—the “Green Machine’s” first loss of the season.

Naparima stayed perfect for the season, while heaping more misery on Carapichaima East Secondary in a 3–0 drubbing at Lewis Street, San Fernando.

Presentation College (San Fernando) edged Queen’s Royal College (QRC) 1–0, with Isaiah “Baby Hulk” Jacob becoming the first player to get into double figures for the season.

Unbeaten St Mary’s College and Arima North Secondary played out a 3–3 cliffhanger in St Clair, while St Benedict’s College scored three times late to beat Trinity College (Moka) 4–0 at Mahaica Sporting Complex.

Naparima (16 points) leads Fatima (14) in the title race, with Presentation (15), St Mary’s (13), QRC (13), and St Benedict’s (12) rounding off the top six teams.

The clash in Westmoorings was, on paper, a meeting of strugglers and had lower-table obscurity written all over it.

St Anthony’s started the day in 13^th place, with a single win from three matches. Their fragility was on display in the last round when they fell to Trinity College 3-2 at home, despite a late rally with Aadil Jr Abdul-Hakeem and Jaeden Bobb scoring.

Scarborough entered the fixture with no wins in six matches, having earned two points from draws against Arima North (3-3) and Malick (2-2).

Their problems have been stark: they have conceded 18 goals, with just six scored. In addition, Scarborough have buckled when facing stronger teams, as losses to Fatima (3-0), St Mary’s (5-0), St Benedict’s (3-1), and Naparima (2–0) have shown.

The Tobago outfit have been shipping goals at an alarming rate while struggling to convert chances.

Given their indifferent form so far, more than a few nervous faces emerged from both dressing rooms to play in front of more nervous faces in the stands and in the school’s corridors.

The heat was oppressive. The temperature was in the mid-30s, and the pressure was on.

St Anthony’s began with an intensity that defied the cruel heat.

From the onset, their movement was sharp and purposeful, their passing crisp and accurate, and their finishing was ruthless.

Within four minutes, Kanye Glasgow ignited the rout.

Cutting in from the right flank, he left his marker for dead and fired a low left-footed shot past Nico James, the Scarborough goalkeeper.

Barely 10 minutes later, Bobb glided past the defender towards the inside right position and unleashed a low drive from a tight angle that beat James at his near post.

Scarborough were already on the ropes, and St Anthony’s continued to exploit that weakness on the Scarborough left side.

The third came in the 17^th minute, again from the right flank.

Glasgow broke free of the defence and sent a chip towards the back post. Thomas took it on his chest and watched the ball bounce into the net.

At the 22^nd minute, Karim Millington added a fourth, towering above several Scarborough defenders to power home from a well-rehearsed routine, expertly executed by Bobb and Darrion Bellerand.

Four goals in 22 minutes—the Tigers’ supporters were in fine voice.

However, Scarborough had two late chances to score in the first half.

St Anthony’s goalkeeper Sylvon Theophilus palmed a shot from Tyrese Neptune away from goal, and Varel Wilson shot wide with only the goalie to beat.

St Anthony’s entered the interval 4–0 up, drenched in sweat and in the raucous applause of their supporters.

By the time the players came out of their dressing room, Mother Nature had flipped the script.

Dark clouds descended off the Northern Range and soon corpulent raindrops thundered onto the field.

The pitch, green and serene in the first half, was a patchwork of puddles and mud, especially on the northern side of the ground, which the Tigers were now attacking.

As the second half started, all fluency in the St Anthony’s passing game disappeared.

Through passes stuck in the mud, boots were heavier, and tackles felt a lot heavier.

Scarborough found an unlikely advantage early on and capitalised with a lightning counterattack.

Striker Jalani Johnson fell while running close to Abdul John, and referee Charlize Hood saw enough contact to whistle for a penalty.

John protested his innocence with vigour—only a visit to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) would have consoled him at that point.

Johan Elliott calmly dispatched the penalty, powering it under Theophilus’ right hand.

With the goal and their success in unpicking the St Anthony’s defence just before the interval, the Tobago outfit may have scented the unlikeliest of comebacks.

However, they were sorely mistaken.

Thomas took the team on his back and struck two quick goals to give the Tigers a five-goal lead.

The fifth goal came out of the chaos created by a corner.

Both Millington and Bobb had shots charged down, but Thomas found space in the six-yard box and sent his shot arrowing between keeper and defender.

Thomas’ hat-trick came after the most delicate of chips over the keeper—a difficult skill to execute with the pitch a virtual quagmire.

Three minutes later came the icing on the cake—the best goal of the game.

Thomas from just outside of the “D” squared a pass to Ford, who produced a devilish first-time finish from just outside the box.

James was expecting a rasping drive, but found Ford’s shot arcing high over his right shoulder.

He attempted to track back to make the save, but it was so brilliantly struck that it descended quickly like a guillotine just under the crossbar and into the net.

Seven goals! On a surface that may have been better suited, in some places, to mud bogging, fatluma, or kabbadi!

St Anthony’s chose to take off Glasgow, Bellerand, John, and Ford, but Thomas stayed on, hit the bar once, and shot wide late.

Scarborough never stopped trying; however, their outlet passes stuck in the mud, and their forwards struggled to generate any chances on the sodden outfield.

At the final whistle, Scarborough’s slumped shoulders contrasted sharply with the raised arms of St Anthony’s players.

The Tigers had shown no mercy. They were finally off and running. Their campaign was back on.

St Anthony’s coach, Ronald Daniel, celebrated his young charges after the game.

“We have a young group, and we started off on the slow side,” he said, “I think the boys are now getting together, and we will see more improvement going forward.”

Scarborough coach Hayden Ryan did not pull any punches, describing his team’s performance as “shameful” and “fearful”.

“We work and we come here, but when you’re frightened, you can’t play, and that is exactly what happened there,” he said.

“They need to man up! You can’t come here and chicken out, and can’t control, and can’t pass. It was a disastrous first half.”

The win lifted St Anthony’s to ninth place, giving them a psychological boost heading into the mid-season stretch.

The victory felt like a statement of intent to the Saints—they showed composure and excellence in the scorching sunshine and in the driving rain.

The Tigers face Arima North next, and they feel they have the confidence  to move further up the table.

“I think the guys will have the right momentum at the right time,” said Daniel, “We always try to be competitive and we are always challenging for the position 1-2-3.”

As for Scarborough, their distress deepens. They are winless and have the joint-worst defensive record in the league. However, Ryan is confident his team can weather the relegation storm.

“We will be okay. I am confident we will be okay,” said Ryan, “When we start to play good, we will win matches whether we are home or away.”

Teams

St Anthony’s College (4-4-2): 1.Sylvon Theophilus (GK) (25.Kristoff Marcus 66); 18.Malique Marshall, 4.Makesi Kendall, 5.Abdul John (20.Christian Renne 80), 6.Karim Millington; 7.Jaeden Bobb, 10.Mordecai Ford (captain) (19.Kareem McDonald 86), 8.Adriel Faure, 14.Jean-Marc Thomas; 21.Kanye Glasgow (17.Marley Ramdass 66), 11.Darrion Bellerand (23.Kymani Thomas 66).

Unused substitutes: 12.Aaron Lewis, 19.Kareem McLeod.

Coach: Ronald Daniel.

Scarborough Secondary (4-3-3): 1.Nico James (GK); 3.Khadeem Phillips, 7.Jaheim Toney (captain), 13.Jalani Johnson, 4.TO Peters (14.Ozil James 66); 10.Johan Elliott, 8.Amar Allie Baccas, 5.Varel Wilson; 21.Jesuron Woods (22.Samel Marcelle 58), 17.Tyrese Neptune (6.Zoevanni Baird 41), 25.J-Barie Wells.

Unused substitutes: 23.Ajay Stewart (GK), 9.Jervae Weekes, 19.Izaiah Wilson, 15.Kamron Yorke, 16.Theo Bruce, 20.Horatio Charles.

Coach: Hayden Ryan.

Referee: Charlize Hood.

SSFL Premier Division results

(Sat 4 October)

St Anthony’s College 7 (Kanye Glasgow 4, Jaeden Bobb 15, Jean-Marc Thomas 17, 56, 62, Karim Millington 22, Mordecai Ford 69), Scarborough Sec 1 (Johan Elliott 50 pen) at Westmoorings;

Naparima College 3 (Jerrel Cooper 6, Ryan Radellant 8, Jayden Caprietta 89), Carapichaima East 0 at Lewis Street;

Fatima College 5 (Jahaem Bailey 4, 21, Josiah Fernandes 23, 83, Seth Hadeed 25), St Augustine Sec 1 (Giovanni Hospedales 65) at Mucurapo Road;

St Mary’s College 3 (Deron Blackman 12, Nadeem Grant 30, Eran McLeod 70 pen), Arima North 3 (Jaquan Aguilleria 28, Criston Gomez 41, Keston Richards 62) at Serpentine Road;

San Juan North 3 (Daniel Lewis 30, 42, Malachi Diaz 67), Malick Secondary 3 (Jahda Riley 7, Jaquan Phillips 26, Jayden Roberts 45+1) at Bourg Mulatresse;

Presentation (San F’do) 1 (Isaiah Jacob 48), QRC 0 at Mannie Ramjohn Stadium;

St Benedict’s College 4 (Josiah Ochoa 57, Joshua Figaro 80, Jaylon Forbes 84, Jaylon Carrington 90+3), Trinity College 0 at Mahaica Sporting Complex;

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

*–Did not play due to travel issues.