DAVID SCARLETT
AFTER three years without schoolboy football, the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Premiership returned and crowned a new champion as St Benedict’s College lifted the coveted trophy following a 3-1 victory over Fatima College at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, on Wednesday afternoon.
This marked the La Romaine Lions’ first-ever title win since the inception of the SSFL Premiership in 2014.
They are only the second team besides Naparima College and Presentation College (San Fernando) to win the league (Shiva Boys’ Hindu College won in 2016).
Prior to the kick-off, SSFL president Merere Gonzales praised both teams for their efforts to get to the final stage, especially as they went through the season unbeaten.
He also stated that having two teams that aren’t Naparima and Presentation in the final is good for the league, its development and its marketability as it would attract different sets of fans, scouts and sponsors.
Amidst a packed arena, both teams walked out of the tunnel with confidence and with a desire for war.
Fatima began on the front foot, keeping the Lions pegged back in their own half for the best of the opening five minutes.
However, St Benedict’s got into their groove and started to test Fatima’s defence. The Lions earned a penalty kick in the tenth minute when referee Crystal Sobers adjudged that Nicholas Bobcombe was brought down in the penalty area by Jaden Williams.
Derrel Garcia stepped up to take the kick and saw his effort impressively saved by goalkeeper Tristan Edwards.
But the Lions didn’t let that penalty miss hinder them as they pressed Fatima and were rewarded with the opening goal courtesy Tarik Lee in the 33rd minute.
The St Benedict’s captain floored Jaden Williams with some fancy footwork and rifled the ball into the bottom right corner with his weaker left foot.
[caption id="attachment_982679" align="alignnone" width="1024"] St Benedict’s College player Jeremiah Niles (R) runs with the ball during the SSFL Premiership division final, on Wednesday, at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva. - Marvin Hamilton[/caption]
A minute later, St Benedict’s almost doubled their lead. Garcia dribbled into the penalty area and unleashed a left-footed shot, which was well saved by Edwards, and the rebound was dragged wide by Lee.
Fatima was close to finding an equaliser when Christian Bailey slalomed his way through St Benedict’s defence, but he ballooned his effort over the bar, and the teams went into the break with the Lions leading 1-0.
The team from the north began the second half strongly with Jesse Hospedales starring in the opening five minutes. The Fatima right-back had two efforts on goal, but to no avail, as his team fought on.
St Benedict’s were awarded another penalty kick in the 60th minute when Hospedales was guilty of using his arms to bring down Garcia in the penalty area.
This time, Tarik Lee took captain’s duty to step up and he blasted his shot past Edwards’ right hand, and into the back of the net to double his team’s lead.
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