SSFL 25: James doubles up as Signal Hill whip “Caps”; Trinity East move out of relegation zone

Signal Hill Secondary put a two-match losing streak behind them this afternoon, as they trounced Carapichaima East Secondary 4-0 in their Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Premier Division outing at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva.

Defender Kisean Grant put Signal Hill ahead after just 11 minutes and they never looked back, as the Tobagonians climbed to 10th on the 16-team standings with a whopping four games in hand.

In other results, Fatima College moved to first place with 19 points—albeit having played a game more than second-placed Naparima College—following a 3-1 win away to San Juan North Secondary.

Presentation College (San Fernando) also put points on the board as they defeated St Mary’s College 4-2 at Serpentine Road in St Clair. It was the Saints’ first loss of the season and they owed much to captain and centre forward Isaiah “Baby Hulk” Jacob.

Jacob scored a second half hattrick—the second time this season that he got three goals or more in a match—to keep the “Pres Lions” in the title race. They are level on points with Naparima and just one point shy of Fatima.

At the other end of the table, Trinity College East moved out of the relegation zone for the first time this season, after a 4-3 win over Malick Secondary in Trincity.

In a see-saw affair, talented attacker Elijah Diaz opened the scoring for TCE only for the hosts to find themselves trailing 2-1 to a Jaquan Phillip item.

However, in the 88^th minute, stocky midfielder Dexter Croal got the winner for Trinity East, as they moved a point clear of the drop zone.

Carapichaima East, unfortunately, are bottom of the 16-team table with zero points from eight games thus far. And they could not change their trajectory today.

“We were in the game in different spurts but we didn’t take advantage of the change in momentum,” said Carapichaima East head coach Jaeel Jeffrey, “and we just allowed things to slip out of our control.”

Jeffrey helped “Caps” win promotion back to the Premier Division, roughly six months ago, and still hopes to keep them in the top flight. But he admitted that they have struggled.

“[We have lacked] off-field support, preparation, and basically squad depth and finances—everything holistically,” said Jeffrey. “We still believe that we can turn it around for the best. And hopefully we can have a good showing for the second half of the season.”

For Signal Hill, the game was effectively won early, with striker Kyle James contributing a late double to take his season’s tally to five goals from four matches.

And their biggest concern in the second half might have been a boarding time set for roughly an hour after the final whistle.

Signal Hill coach Downie Marcelle has complained about the psychological impact of their disjointed season, as postponed matches continue to climb for the team from the “Sister Isle”.

“It’s a game that we managed well—but given our stop-start stop-start [season], we still lacked the rhythm that the boys are accustomed [to] playing with,” said Marcelle, who noted that the Premier Division is a challenging one, which requires significant adjustment for new teams like Caps.

“We were a bit wasteful, I think. But again, the players are young, they are learning.

“[…] Now we prepare for our upcoming game, a difficult one versus Pres.”

It will be the first time this season that Signal Hill have played twice in one week. Marcelle would hope to see the benefit of that against the Premier Division heavyweights, Presentation (San F’do).

Teams

Carapichaima Secondary School (4-3-3): 1.Jayden Meharris (GK); 2.Gary Samaroo, 5.Shemor John, 4.Darion Boswell (captain), 12.Keilon Forde; 3.Mikael Aberdeen (11.Damarion Boswell 70), 6.Emmanuel Edwards, 8.Jerel Charles; 9.Karmali Wilson, 10.Zion Thompson (Teriq Langton 64), 7.Keon Kissoon (21.Neuval Watson 80).

Unused substitutes: 2.Rayhan Roberts, 13.Justyn Charles, 14.Christiano Lively, 15.Derwin Francis, 18.Kaleb Sandiford, 19.Nkosi Yorrick, 24.Shadrach Carrington.

Coach: Jaeel Jeffrey.

Signal Hill Secondary (4-2-1-3): 1.Kaleb Romeo (GK); 14.Kyen Anderson, 24.Kisean Grant, 3.Daishawn Bradshaw, 4.Jahmiah Gibbes (20.Kaden James 80); 18.Ackim Duncan, 11.Antonio Hopkins (captain); 17.Jediael Marcelle (5.Callany Job 80); 23.Damario Henry (12.Immanual Wright 28), 10.Jermaine Morgan (9.Kyle James 59), 2.Jaquon Defour (7.J’Meke Watkins 59).

Unused substitutes: 25.Emani Baptiste (GK), 6.Khaleem Trim, 8.Raevion Marshall, 19.Nickel Bradshaw, 21.Siel Mills.

Coach: Downie Marcelle.

Referee: Akini Wilson.

SSFL Premier Division results

(Wed 8 October)

Carapichaima East 0, Signal Hill Sec 4 (Kisean Grant 11, Jamiah Gibbs 23, Kyle James 78, 80) at Ato Boldon Stadium;

Arima North 1 (Zion Metivier 16), St Anthony’s College 1 (Kanye Glasgow 15) at Arima Velodrome;

Trinity East 4 (Elijah Diaz 5, Deisean Plaza 45+1, Jehrell Ignatius 64, Dexter Croal 88), Malick Secondary 3 (Teung Burnley 9, Jaquan Phillip 43, Uzochi Bacchus OG 85) at Trincity;

San Juan North 1 (Daniel Lewis 61), Fatima College 3 (Seth Hadeed 28 pen, Reagan Rowe 33, Phillip Nelson 64) at Bourg Mulatresse;

QRC 4 (Jasai Theophilus 45, 55, Neomiah Thompson 57, Jalano Straker 88), St Augustine Sec 1 (Donte Gordon 68) QRC ground;

St Mary’s College 2 (Nadeem Grant 38, Finn De Freitas 65), Presentation (San F’do) 4 (Nikosi Foncette 33, Isaiah Jacob 54, 62, 76) at Serpentine Road;

Trinity College v Scarborough Secondary, 3.30pm, Moka;

*–Did not play;

Naparima College v St Benedict’s College, 3.30pm, Lewis Street;

*–Did not play.

2025 Premier Division

Pos	Club	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	St Benedict's	12	10	0	2	38	11	27	30
2	Fatima	13	9	2	2	44	21	23	29
3	Naparima	12	9	1	2	37	7	30	28
4	Presentation	13	9	1	3	28	9	19	28
5	St Anthony's	11	7	1	3	27	16	11	22
6	St Mary's	12	5	3	4	31	19	12	18
7	QRC	13	5	3	5	23	23	0	18
8	Trinity Moka	11	6	0	5	21	26	-5	18
9	Arima North	13	4	4	5	29	27	2	16
10	Signal Hill	7	5	0	2	22	10	12	15
11	Trinity East	11	3	1	7	16	36	-20	10
12	San Juan	11	2	3	6	20	23	-3	9
13	Malick	11	2	3	6	22	29	-7	9
14	St Augustine	12	2	3	7	13	41	-28	9
15	Scarborough Sec	11	1	3	7	12	33	-21	6
16	Carapichaima	13	0	0	13	7	59	-52	0

Upcoming fixtures

(Sat 11 October)

Presentation (San F’do) v Signal Hill Sec, 3.30pm, Mannie Ramjohn Stadium;

Malick Secondary v St Mary’s College, 3.30pm, TBA;

St Benedict’s College v Arima North, 3.30pm, Mahaica Sporting Complex;

Fatima College v QRC, 3.30pm, Mucurapo Road;

Naparima College v St Augustine Sec, 3.30pm, Lewis Street;

Trinity College v San Juan North, 3.30pm, Moka;

St Anthony’s College v Trinity East, 3.30pm, Westmoorings;

Scarborough Secondary v Carapichaima East, 3.30pm, Shaw Park.

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