Kwesi Allen scored hat-trick and incredibly, a headed goal in virtually the last touch of the match, to keep St Anthony's on top of the BGTT Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Premier Division standing, yesterday, when the "Tigers" clawed back to trump Shiva Boys Hindu College, 3-2, in Westmoorings.
St Anthony's equalised twice, once in the first and second half to seal the win, thanks to the school's leading goal scorer.
While the objective of a fifth straight win was achieved, head coach Nigel Grosvenor will have to endure a headache in selecting the squads for upcoming matches as he will be without the services of yet another player who received a red card and a number of others who have been summoned for national Under-17 duties.
Forward Andrew Rullow, who was brought in as a substitute to attack the final play of the match with the match locked at two-all, was immediately sent off when attacking a set-piece, according to Grosvenor for "pulling away his hand as he was held back by a Shiva Boys player."
Grosvenor said the play never warranted a dismissal and it was a shame that his team was now on the receiving end of four red cards in three matches. St Anthony's has, in fact, received at least one red card, in each of the matches it competed in this season. The only match which did not result in a dismissal was the fixture against St Benedict's, which the "Tigers" won because of an unfit pitch.
"He got not once touch of the ball (as) he now came on. He (Rullow) was in tears," said Grosvenor. "The linesman, who was closer to the action told the referee that he should be cautioned at most."
Along with Rullow, Grosvenor will also be without the services of Shakeem Patrick, Raheem Borde, Mattheus Granger and Shem Clauzel, who were called up for the Under-17 team scheduled to play in the CFU Championship finals in Haiti from September 26 to October 3.
In simultaneous matches, St Mary's College remained in second spot despite behind held to a one-all draw by Trinity College, while St Benedict's moved up the ranks with a comfortable 3-0 win over Naparima College. Rock bottom East Mucurapo finally gained a point following a 1-1 draw with North Zone rival Fatima College.
Results
Yesterday: Premier Division
St Anthony's 3 (Kwesi Allen 3) v Shiva Boys HC 2 (Tequan Rodriguez, Kadeem Ashford)
Arima North 2 v St Augustine 2
Carapichaima East 2 (Jeremy Trim, Josiah Richards) v San Juan North 1
(Benjamin McIvor)
St Benedict's 3 v Naparima College 0
Trinity College 1 v St Mary's College 1
East Mucurapo 1 (Jair Edwards) v Fatima College 1 (Kyell Lancaster)
Presentation San F'do 3 (Quintel John 2nd, 87th, Levon Bass 18th pen) v Chaguanas North 0?