Initially, it did not look like Naparima would need goal difference or the match announcer to secure the Big Four title as they were able to establish a 2-nil lead within the first ten minutes. First in the 5th minute, midfielder Akinola Gregory smoothly jinked past a number of half-hearted St. Anthony's challenges before placing his right-footed shoot beyond the reach of Carlton Alfonso in the 'Tigers' goal. Alfonso was made to pick up the ball from the back of the net just two minutes later as National Under-20 striker Nicholas Dillon beat him easily after being played through on goal. I for one thought that Naparima would run away with this game given their unbelievable start, but I was wrong. St. Anthony's pulled a goal back in the very next minute as their defensive midfielder Leon Whlye nudged in a loose ball after the Naparima defenders failed to deal with a corner.
It was anybody's guess as to how the game would go from here on; and my guess was that at least four more goals would be scored but I was left hugely disappointed on that front.
Naparima's star player Jabari Mitchell showed some glimpses of coming to life but but looked intent on trying his luck from long range. He found Alfonso to be a very good match when he had his stinging long range effort palmed over the bar in the 31st minute. He was then able to escape the finger tips of the St. Anthony's custodian with a free kick just before half time but his his curling shot just would not dip in time. At the other end Akeem Awong was a bit underworked in the 'Naps' goal as the absence of St. Anthony's talisman Matthew Woo-Ling told heavily. Woo-Ling must have been regretting his earlier booking as he had to endure this decisive clash from the stands.
St. Anthony's started the second half in the same vein 'Naps' started the first but the telling difference was that there was no end product. Their coach Nigel Grovsenor made his intentions clear when he brought on striker Andrew Rullow to replace wide player Jules Lee in the 48th minute. Rullow left his coach and supporters alike cursing their luck in the 53rd minute though as he somehow managed an 'air shot' with the goal at his mercy. His strike partner Allen almost redeemed him just seconds later but his powerful shot rippled the side netting.
'Naps' were now reeling and probably had Rullow to thank for maintaining their one-goal advantage. The lanky striker looked a sure bet to score in the 65th minute but again failed to find the net, this time hitting his shot straight at Awong after being played through one-on-one. Allen on the other hand continued to look dangerous and would have scored if not for an alert Awong in the 'Naps' goal. The 'Tigers' top goalscorer could not add to his tally as he saw his venomous left-footed effort well saved by the 'Naps' goalie who was having a solid game.
The game inched closer and closer to the final whistle and 'Naps' looked as though they had dealt with the Tigers' wrath. Their coach Angus Eve chopped and changed as he sought to protect his team's advantage, taking off the two goalscorers in the process.
The 90 minutes were now up and it was just a matter of time before referee Cecile Hinds blew her whistle for the final time. She was made to wait a bit however as that man Kwesi 'Jep' Allen was finally able to find the back of the net. An ill-advised back pass in Naparima's final third led to a mad scramble in the area where the 'Tigers' swarmed the box and in the end Allen was the one that squeezed his shot through the crowd.
 |
| Naparima captain Amritt Gidharry holds poses with the Big Four trophy. |
Allen's goal was the last scoring action in the game and it meant that Naps' ten minute burst in the first half had just about done the trick for them. 'Naps' have now won the Premier Division title and the Big Four this season and I definitely would not put an Intercol triumph beyond them.
No comments:
Post a Comment