Presentation College of San Fernando stayed on course to retain its Shell/First Citizens Secondary Schools Football League Premier Division title with a hard fought 2-1 win over hosts St Augustine Secondary at Warren Street, St Augustine, on Saturday.
With head coach Shawn Cooper back on the sidelines after duties with the senior national women's team, the southerners were in no mood for a slip up with two-time winners Naparima College and San Juan North hot on its heels.
With only 11 minutes gone in the contest, Ackeel Jacob silenced the home crowd and three minutes before the half-time whistle, Jaiyee Sheppard doubled the lead for the visitors.
Seven minutes after the restart, Kesean St Rose pulled a goal back for the 'Green Machine', however, Presentation held on for the narrow win to move to 25 points from nine matches, three more than San Juan North, which has a match in hand.
San Juan North stay within touching distance of the leaders with a narrow 1-0 triumph away to St Mary's College at Serpentine Road, St Clair, with Jerry Morris, the hero for the visitors.
At Lewis Street, San Fernando, Naparima College slipped to third after a come-from-behind 1-1 draw with St Anthony's College.
Josiah Edwards fired the 'Westmooring Tigers' ahead in the 71st but ten minutes later, Mark Ramdeen netted to earn 'Naps' a share of the points to climb to 21 points.
In the other matches, Carapichaima East got the better of Bishop’s High 2-1; QRC and Trinity College East battled to a 1-1 draw; Fatima got its first win of the campaign 1-0 over hosts St Benedict’s College at Mannie Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella and East Mucurapo blanked Valencia Secondary 2-0 at Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar.
Yesterday's results:
Carapichaima East 2 (Keilon Burnette, Daniel Pascall) vs Bishop's High 1 (Dominique Lyons)
Naparima College 1 (Mark Ramdeen 81st) vs St Anthony’s College 1 (Josiah Edwards 71st)
Queen’s Royal College (Jean-Paul Rochford pen) vs Trinity College East 1 (Kurdell Sween pen)
St Augustine 1 (Kesean St Rose 52nd) vs Presentation College 2 (Ackeel Jacob 11th, Jaiyee Sheppard 42nd)
St Benedict’s College 0 vs Fatima College 1 (Mikhail Mc Comie 73rd)
St Mary’s College 0 vs San Juan North 1 (Jerry Morris)
Valencia 0 vs East Mucurapo 2 (Zion Mc Leod, Shakime Wickham)
Trinity College Moka - Bye
Current standings:
Teams*P*W*D*L*F*A*Pts
Presentation*9*8*0*0*22*5*25
San Juan North*8*7*1*0*18*6*22
Naparima*9*6*3*0*17*5*21
St Augustine*9*4*1*4*17*15*13
Carapichaima East*8*4*1*3*17*17*13
St Anthony’s*7*3*2*2*12*9*11
Trinity East*8*2*5*1*8*6*11
Trinity Moka*7*3*2*2*11*14*11
QRC*8*2*4*2*10*8*10
East Mucurapo*8*2*2*4*11*15*8
St Benedict’s*7*2*2*3*8*8*8
Valencia*8*2*0*6*10*21*6
St Mary’s*8*1*2*5*7*13*5
Fatima*9*1*1*7*7*16*4
Bishop’s High*9*0*1*8*10*27*1
