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Naparima College’s Lewis Street ground fell silent at the final whistle today, save for the tireless rhythm section.
In arguably the Secondary Schools Football League’s biggest derby at present, Presentation College (San Fernando) emerged triumphant with a 1-0 result that could potentially breathe new life into the 2025 Premier Division title race.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
Thank Presentation defensive midfielder Josiah Bain’s thumping drive for that!
The Naparima defeat, coupled with a freakish 6-4 win by Fatima College over Arima North Secondary, saw the former’s team lead atop the standings trimmed from five points to two—although the latter outfit played one game more.
Naparima, who had a 100 percent record before today, have 27 points to Fatima’s 25.
Presentation College are fourth with 25 points. The “Pres Lions” trail third placed St Benedict’s College by goal difference—and St Benedict’s further enhanced their goal tally today with a 12-1 mauling of bottom placed Carapichaima East Secondary.
Photo: Dirk Allahar/ bCreative/ Wired868.
There was movement at the other end of the table as Malick Secondary climbed out of relegation zone, after a 3-3 draw with Queen’s Royal College at QRC ground. It might have been better too for Malick, who were denied three points by a last-minute equaliser from Josh Thavenot.
Malick’s climb from 14th to 12th was at the expense of San Juan North Secondary, who slipped into the bottom three after their 2-1 loss away to St Anthony’s College today.
St Anthony’s are sixth at present with 19 points. And, with two games in hand, the “Westmoorings Tigers” can feasibly pull themselves into second place—and title contention—if a few more results go their way.
Today belonged to Presentation, though.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
At the final whistle, a group of Presentation College players ran onto the field bearing a banner that pledged support for suspended coach Shawn Cooper, who remains sidelined by Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) safeguarding chief Gary St Rose.
However, Pres were in celebratory mode, having held on to edge their fierce rivals in a proper, gritty derby.
The visitors started stronger on Lewis Street, before “Naps” wrestled control and demonstrated why they are atop the standings. Midfielder Shabani Thompson came closest to the first goal, during the opening 45 minutes, with a 20-yard effort that clipped the outside of Presentation goalkeeper Marcelo Phillip’s left upright.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
However, in the first minute of time added on, Bain took a speculative effort from around 40-yards out that crashed off the underside of the crossbar before ricocheting into the goal off of Naps goalkeeper Mikhail Clement.
What the first half failed to produce in quality opportunities, the second half duly supplied. But Naparima failed to put away a number of clear-cut opportunities.
And Presentation held firm, despite the stifling pressure from the hosts, to earn the definition of a smash and grab win.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
(Editor’s Note: See Wired868 tomorrow for the full match report.)
Teams
Naparima College (4-3-3): 1.Mikhail Clement (GK); 2.Jeremiah Daniel, 3.Elijah Edwards, 4.Antonio Hills, 24.Sebastian James; 22.Shabani Thompson (14.Mikhael Bullock 63), 21.Jacob O’Reilly, 8.Jerrel Cooper (captain) (11.Adasa Richardson 63); 23.Arron Raymond (10.Xarion France 63), 9.Jabari Rodriguez (7.Ryan Radellant 85), 5.Jaydon Caprietta.
Unused substitutes: 25.Adriano Baptiste (GK), 6.Camron Bovell, 15.Seth Eve, 19.Darius Procope, 27.Donovan Drayton.
Coach: Angus Eve.
Presentation College (3-4-1-2): 1.Marcelo Phillip (GK); 5.Kadon Elliott, 14.Joshua Bernard, 3.Jimally Renne; 7.Roshaun Doobay (11.Gabriel Collins 71), 9.Josiah Bain, 6.Nikosi Foncette, 12.Mahkaya Mahon; 13.Raul Perreira (19.Kwesi Seales 80); 10.Isaiah Jacob (captain), 16.Kyron Baptiste (15.Tyrese Harding 62).
Unused substitutions: 28.Renaldo Lee (GK), 17.Aaron Clement, 18.Josiah Stewart, 20.Aidan Sinanan-McDonald, 21.Oshea Watson, 23.Aden Montano, 25.Luke Jagdeo.
Coach: Dunstan Williams.
Referee: Cecile Hinds.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
SSFL Premier Division results
(Wed 22 October)
Naparima College 0, Presentation (San F’do) 1 (Josiah Bain 45+1) at Lewis Street;
Fatima College 6 (Jonathan Mason 13, Jahaem Bailey 19 pen, 37, Phillip Mason 22, 53, 85), Arima North 4 (Jadon Pollard OG 48, Cristiano Hinds 66, 75, Hasheem Hill 79 pen) at Mucurapo Road;
Malick Secondary 3 (Jahda Riley 50, Xavier Caruth OG 62, Jaquan Phillip 71 pen), QRC 3 (Jordan Grant 27, Jalano Straker 65, Josh Thavenot 90) at QRC grounds;
Trinity College 4 (Jaeden Samuel 24, 45, 66, Anton Joseph 65), St Augustine Secondary 2 (Israel Leonsing 7, Giovanni Hospedales 85) at Moka;
St Anthony’s College 2 (Jean-Marc Thomas 5, Adriel Faure 62), San Juan North 1 (Jaheem Danclar 61) at Westmoorings;
Carapichaima East 1 (Zion Thompson 1), St Benedict’s College 12 (Jaylon Forbes 13, 26, 50, Jelani Stoute 19, 33, Camron Burke 31, Josiah Ochoa 40, 45+2, 71, 76, 90+2, Thane Devenish 81 pen) at Mannie Ramjohn Stadium.
2025 Premier Division
| Pos | Club | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Naparima | 10 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 34 | 3 | 31 | 27 |
| 2 |  Fatima | 11 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 32 | 20 | 12 | 25 |
| 3 |  St Benedict's | 10 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 34 | 10 | 24 | 24 |
| 4 |  Presentation | 11 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 19 | 8 | 11 | 24 |
| 5 |  St Anthony's | 9 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 24 | 13 | 11 | 19 |
| 6 |  QRC | 12 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 21 | 21 | 0 | 17 |
| 7 |  St Mary's | 11 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 29 | 18 | 11 | 15 |
| 8 |  Trinity Moka | 10 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 18 | 24 | -6 | 15 |
| 9 |  Arima North | 11 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 23 | 22 | 1 | 13 |
| 10 |  Signal Hill | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 18 | 9 | 9 | 12 |
| 11 |  Malick | 10 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 21 | 26 | -5 | 9 |
| 12 |  Trinity East | 9 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 12 | 30 | -18 | 9 |
| 13 |  St Augustine | 11 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 13 | 33 | -20 | 9 |
| 14 |  San Juan | 9 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 18 | 20 | -2 | 8 |
| 15 |  Scarborough Sec | 10 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 11 | 29 | -18 | 6 |
| 16 |  Carapichaima | 12 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 7 | 48 | -41 | 0 |
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