Ten-man Fatima College scored three late goals to earn a come-from-behind 5-2 triumph against the previously perfect San Juan North Secondary to move to the top of the 16-team Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Premier Division after round six matches.
This after former joint leaders and the other team with a 100 per cent winning record heading into Saturday’s matches, four-time winner Naparima saw its unbeaten start ended as well in a 1-0 loss to Arima North at the University of T&T O’Meara Road Campus, Arima.
At San Juan North Secondary, the host took the lead through influential midfielder and national Under-17 ace Lindell Sween in the 22nd minute but four minutes later, an effort from Fatima’s Elijah Camacho deflected off a San Juan North’s player into his own goal to even up the score at 1-1.
Seven minutes later, Fatima regained the lead through Aiden De Gannes and looked to be heading into the break ahead 2-1, only for Nathan Quashie to get San Juan North level once more to leave the contest nicely poised at the half-time whistle at 2-2.
However, five minutes into the second half, Fatima was reduced to ten men when captain and defender Jaden Williams was issued a red card.
But San Juan North failed to make use of their player advantage and with three minutes left in regulation time, Fatima stunned the host with Jonathan Mason scoring the go-ahead item followed by another one minute into time added-on for a 4-2 scoreline, which was capped off by Michael Chaves’ with the visitors’ fifth item, seven minutes into time added-on to seal the stunning win to take their points tally to 16 from six matches, one ahead of San Juan North and Naparima, who had its run ended courtesy a 13th-minute strike for Arima North by Stephano Christopher to join East Mucurapo, St Anthony’s and St Mary’s Colleges all on nine points.
At the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella, former champion Presentation College of San Fernando got two goals each from Adah Barclay and Vaughn Clement in a 4-0 beating of Bishop’s High to jump to fourth on the standings with 11 points, one ahead of surprise package Speyside who defeated cellar-placed Pleasantville at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium training field.
For Speyside, the trio Lenox Eastman, N’kosi Quashie and Riquelme Phillips were all on target while Pleasantville got its lone reply from Kelon Williams.
At Fatima ground on Mucurapo Road, Clint Latchman, Malachi Henry and Jaden Mc Shine netted for East Mucurapo in a 3-0 win over Chaguanas North; defending champion St Benedict’s College edged St Anthony’s 1-0 on a goal from Josiah Ochoa at the Mahaica Oval, Point Fortin and St Mary’s rallied from 2-0 down to beat Queen’s Royal College (QRC) 4-3 with Kyle Phillip scoring a hat trick for the winners to cancel out Stephano James hat trick for the visitors.
In the other match yesterday, Trinity College East got its first win of the season, 2-1 over Malick Secondary with Jeremiah Frank-Williams and Josiah Figaro scoring after Tyrese Manswell had given Malick the lead.
Saturday’s results
St Benedict's 1 (Josiah Ochoa) vs St Anthony’s 0
East Mucurapo Sec 3 (Clint Latchman, Malachi Henry, Jaden Mc Shine) vs Chaguanas North 0
St Mary's (Kyle Phillip 3, Ryan Radellant) vs QRC 3 (Stephano James 3)
Presentation 4 (Adah Barclay 2, Vaughn Clement 2) vs Bishop's High 0
Speyside 3 (Lenox Eastman, N'kosi Quashie, Riquelme Phillips) vs Pleasantville 1 (Kelon Williams)
Fatima 5 (Jonathan Mason 87th, 90+1, own goal 26th, Aidan De Gannes 33rd, Michael Chaves 90+7) vs San Juan North 2 (Lindell Sween 222nd, Nathan Quashie 45th)
Arima North 1 (Stephano Christopher 13th) vs Naparima College 0
Trinity East 2 (Jeremiah Frank-Williams 58th, Josiah Figaro 62nd) vs Malick 1 (Tyrese Manswell 48th)
Standings
Position Team P W D L F A Pts
1 Fatima 6 5 1 0 23 2 16
2 Naparima 6 5 0 1 32 3 15
3 San Juan North 6 5 0 1 16 9 15
4 Presentation 6 3 2 1 9 3 11
5 Speyside 6 3 1 2 10 7 10
6 Arima North 6 2 3 1 11 4 9
7 St Anthony’s 6 3 0 3 15 11 9
8 St Mary’s 6 3 0 3 18 19 9
9 East Mucurapo 6 3 0 3 8 16 9
10 St Benedict’s 6 2 2 2 8 6 8
11 Malick 6 2 0 4 15 9 6
12 QRC 6 2 0 4 7 10 6
13 Trinity East 5 1 2 2 6 7 5
14 Bishop’s High 5 1 0 4 2 11 3
15 Chaguanas North 6 1 0 5 2 36 3
16 Pleasantville 6 0 1 5 3 32 1