East
Mucurapo Secondary continued their Cinderella run in this year’s Coca Cola
National Intercol competition with a one-nil victory over San Juan North
Secondary in the semi-final round. Mucurapo is now just one win away
from copping the National Intercol title, a stark contrast to their Premier
Division campaign which ended in relegation. Mucurapo have now overcome the
likes of St. Anthony’s, St. Mary’s, Speyside and San Juan in their Intercol
journey and only St. Benedict’s College stand between them and Intercol glory.
Benedict’s have also proven that they are no fluke and can boast of ousting the
Premier Division and Big 4 Champs ‘Naps’ on their way to the grand finale.
The game
itself at the Larry Gomes Stadium wasn’t the most beautiful to watch as both
teams struggled to get the ball on the ground and moving around, often
reverting to long balls. San Juan’s giant duo of Josiah Trimingham and Brent
Sam did not seem to have their almost telepathic understanding yesterday and
their team was sluggish without it. Trimingham was deployed at his natural
centre-back, but a dissimilar role to the one he played most of the season as a
defensive midfielder. His absence in the centre of the park allowed for
Mucurapo’s Glenroy Pierre and Micah Lansiquof to dictate most of the midfield
play.
After a goalless first half both teams tried to up the ante in search of that all-important go ahead goal. Sam would have been one of the prime men to break the deadlock but the San Juan captain found an alert Aaron Enil in the Mucurapo goal when he tried to squeeze a shot in at the near post in the 49th minute. Kathon St. Hillaire also tried his luck at breeching the deadlock but the Mucurapo forward shot just over after cutting in from the right flank.
In truth, St. Hillaire was one of the liveliest players on the pitch and often had Brandon Semper and Jamal Roach scampering on Mucurapo’s right flank to try and contain him. The wily forward got his just reward in the 71st minute when an attempted clearance by Trimingham cannoned off him and settled neatly in the back of the net; San Juan’s custodian D’Eandre Villaroel was a mere spectator. It was a goal that summed up the match up to that point, scrappy. St. Hilliare’s teammates could care less how the goal came though and dashed after him hoping to get a hold of the man of the moment. St. Hilliarie stopped his runaway celebration by trying to calm down his teammates.
After a goalless first half both teams tried to up the ante in search of that all-important go ahead goal. Sam would have been one of the prime men to break the deadlock but the San Juan captain found an alert Aaron Enil in the Mucurapo goal when he tried to squeeze a shot in at the near post in the 49th minute. Kathon St. Hillaire also tried his luck at breeching the deadlock but the Mucurapo forward shot just over after cutting in from the right flank.
In truth, St. Hillaire was one of the liveliest players on the pitch and often had Brandon Semper and Jamal Roach scampering on Mucurapo’s right flank to try and contain him. The wily forward got his just reward in the 71st minute when an attempted clearance by Trimingham cannoned off him and settled neatly in the back of the net; San Juan’s custodian D’Eandre Villaroel was a mere spectator. It was a goal that summed up the match up to that point, scrappy. St. Hilliare’s teammates could care less how the goal came though and dashed after him hoping to get a hold of the man of the moment. St. Hilliarie stopped his runaway celebration by trying to calm down his teammates.
San Juan’s coach Jerry Moe responded by making two substitutions in quick succession while also thrusting Trimingham a little further forward. The move to put Trimingham in an advanced role almost reaped reward in the 81st minute but he was unable to keep his shot under the bar after Enil spilled a lofted delivery that came into the box.
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| The big Josiah Trimingham tried his utmost to restore parity in the contest and almost did. Here he is in action vs St. Mary's College earlier on in the season. |
The Bourg boys were finally showing urgency and even played ‘ball-boy’ for the Mucurapo players, as there were none available. The deadly Sam now turned into a long throw specialist and ushered his players into the penalty area, although he would have been better served being there himself.
San Juan did muster one last effort but Trimingham’s low right-footed drive was stylishly stopped by Enil in stoppage time. Pierre almost added the icing on top for the Mucurapo boys but his inventive finesse effort went just wide.
As it turned out a second item was not needed for the boys in burgundy as St. Hilliare’s fortunate effort, though he may claim otherwise, was the only goal of the contest.
San Juan North Secondary 0
East Mucurapo Secondary 1 (Kathon
St. Hillaire 71)
Larry Gomes Stadium
(Fri Dec 5)
Girls’ Intercol final
Point Fortin East Secondary v St
Augustine Secondary, 3 pm, Hasely Crawford Stadium;
Boys’ Intercol final
St Benedict’s College v East Mucurapo
Secondary, 5 pm, Hasely Crawford Stadium.
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