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Roxborough Secondary suffered a self-inflicted blow to their promotion chances for the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Premiership Division competition yesterday, as the Tobago zonal champions failed to turn up for their Big Five contest with Presentation College (Chaguanas) in Trinidad.
Wired868 understands that Roxborough failed to secure flights for the game, which would have been their first Big Five fixture on the road—after successive home wins against Pleasantville Secondary and El Dorado West Secondary.
Photo: Neil Harper.
However, according to a source, Roxborough did not properly inform the league of their issues, which meant that Presentation (Chaguanas) prepared for the game with referees and match commissioner both on site.
So, just one point shy of a historic place in the Premiership, Roxborough’s promotion chances have shifted considerably.
Their final Big Five match is away to rampant leaders East Mucurapo Secondary on Saturday 28 November.
Yesterday, East Mucurapo trounced Pleasantville 5-0 at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium to top the standings with six points and +8 goal differential.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
Presentation are set to go second with six points and a +4 goal difference—with three of those goals likely to be gifted to them by Roxborough’s no-show. The Tobago winners also have six points, but with a goal difference of +1.
El Dorado West Secondary, who controversially abandoned their game against Roxborough last week with six minutes to go, have three points with one game remaining. They host Presentation on 28 November.
Pleasantville are eliminated with zero points and a -12 goal difference from their four games.
East Mucurapo, who have home games against Presentation and Roxborough left, are in a strong position to qualify. A single point, or two narrow defeats, would get coach Dale Saunders’ team back upstairs.
Ditto Presentation, who are away to Mucurapo and then El Dorado West over the next two weekends.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
A point for Roxborough at Mucurapo would also be enough for the Tobago champions to move upstairs. However, there is a scenario where they qualify, even with successive defeats.
Anything less than three points to El Dorado West, when they host Presentation on 28 November, and Tobago will have three teams competing together in the Premiership for the first time.
Roxborough missed a glorious opportunity to advance their case for promotion yesterday, and likely boosted Presentation’s own campaign too. But it is not over yet.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
SSFL Big Five results
(Saturday 14 November)
Pleasantville Secondary 0, East Mucurapo Secondary 5 (Niheme Vanderpool 10, 61, Keith Fraser 16, 25, Ajani Glasgow 47 pen) at Mannie Ramjohn Stadium;
Presentation College (Chaguanas) vs Roxborough Secondary, 3.30pm, Presentation ground;
*–Roxborough Sec failed to show up.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
Upcoming fixtures
(Saturday 21 November)
East Mucurapo Secondary vs Presentation College (Chaguanas), 3.30pm, East Mucurapo ground;
(Saturday 28 November)
East Mucurapo Secondary vs Roxborough Secondary, 3.30pm, East Mucurapo ground;
El Dorado West Secondary vs Presentation College (Chaguanas), 3.30pm, El Dorado West ground.
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