Three different players were on target as Naparima College whipped St Augustine 3-1 to open a two-point lead at the top of the BGTT/First Citizens Secondary Schools Football Premier Division Leaguetable at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella, yesterday.
However, it was the high-flying St Augustine Green Machine, unbeaten in their previous three matches which stunned the crowd at Marabella when Anthony Samuel netted on the stroke of half-time for a 1-0 lead. But after a half-time pep talk from Angus Eve, Naparima, the reigning League and "Big-Four" champions, returned to the pitch as a rejuvenated bunch and within six minutes got back on level terms through Kierron Mason.
Two minutes later, Naps took the lead for good via Anderson Toussaint while Isaiah Hudson, coming off a hat trick in a 5-1 spanking of Trinity East on Wednesday, added the third on the hour mark.
With the win, Naparima climbed to 22 points from nine matches, two more than neighbours Presentation College of San Fernando which battled past San Juan North 3-2 at Bourg Mulatresse, San Juan.
The visitors went ahead as early as the fifth minute thanks to a San Juan own goal, but the prolific Brent Sam (19th) and Jerome Cyrus (28th) then netted for San Juan North to lead 2-1 only for Sherwin Noel to get the southerners back level at 2-2 six minutes before the half.
And in an evenly matched second-half, Tyrell Williams got the decisive item for Presentation dropping San Juan North to third with 18 points, the same as Shiva Boys and one ahead of Queen's Royal College, St Anthony's College and St Benedict's College, all winners yesterday as well.
At Serpentine Road, St Clair, QRC trounced bitter rival St Mary's 3-0, down at Westmoorings, host St Anthony's overcameFyzabad 3-1 led by a double from Kwesi Allen while St Benedict's shut out Speyside at the Mahaica Oval, Pt Fortin.