Form One student J'Quan Bernard, 13, had a dream debut for Speyside High School yesterday, scoring the winner against Signal Hill Secondary in a bruising Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) encounter at Shaw Park Recreation Ground in Tobago.
The newly promoted side showed it is ready for the top tier, soaking up immense pressure for long periods before prevailing 2-1.
Mobbed at the final whistle, J'Quan said it felt amazing to come off the bench and help his team get three points.
Referee Gedes John was kept busy throughout the clash, dishing out eight yellow cards and a red in the Tobago derby.
Signal Hill, reeling from the loss of nine senior players in the off-season, started on the front foot, pinning the Mantas in their own half. Daylhon McNeil tested the Speyside backline with several penetrative runs and crosses down the right flank, but Speyside held firm.
Signal Hill skipper Jmeke Watkins looked to take matters into his own hands with a surge down the middle, but he spanked his right-footed shot over the bar.
Speyside looked most deadly from set pieces and was rewarded with two free kicks in quick succession on the left flank after a couple of rash challenges saw the referee dip into his pocket both times.
The latter free kick resulted in the opening goal. Signal Hill was unable to clear the initial cross, which fell to the feet of Tevez Smith, who swivelled and fired into the net.
Signal Hill forward Callany Job should have knotted the scores after turning his marker near the box, but his left-footed strike was repelled.
The threat of Speyside forward Riquelme Phillips on the counter was present throughout the contest, and he caught his rivals napping at the halfway line. However, the former Naparima star lifted his strike past the goalie and wide of the post.
Signal Hill's Jaden Marcelle had the ball in the back of the net on the stroke of halftime, but he was flagged for offside.
The Tobago Intercol champions maintained their aggression in the second half, with Speyside sinking deeper into their own territory.
A string of passes freed up Watkins near the Speyside box, but Smith came charging out to block his effort.
The Speyside resistance was finally broken in the 75th despite an incredible double save from goalie Elijah Richards.
The custodian stopped Ackim Duncan, who was slipped through one-on-one, and then made another impressive stop. However, his defence could not clear the danger, and Duncan's persistence paid off with the equaliser.
With time running out and Speyside on the ropes, Riquelme ensured their hard work was not in vain. The forward chased a hopeful long ball down the left and beat the last defender before firing from a tight angle. The effort was parried by Kaleb Romeo, but Bernard was in the right place to tuck it home in the 85th.
Frustration boiled over for Signal Hill defender Kisean Grant, who was shown his second yellow card for dissent.
After the win, Riquelme credited the resilience of the Mantas.
"It was a tough game. We couldn't stop fighting. We fight to the end and come out with the victory, " he said.
Although not on the scoresheet, Riquelme's influence was felt on both sides of the ball, and he vowed to bring that intensity every game.
