St. Anthony's flatten QRC in Intercol action

St. Anthony’s College rebounded from their Big Four disappoint eleven days ago to come away with a comfortable 4-1 win over QRC in Intercol action in Westmoorings yesterday. The ‘Tigers’ were not at their fluent best against the recently promoted Royalians but still created and converted enough to please their home fans. Talisman Matthew Woo Ling was available again after serving a suspension and his mere presence uplifted the ‘Tigers’ attack which lacked potency in that pivotal Big Four decider against Naparima College.

It was Woo Ling’s lofted 25^th minute corner which provided the route for St. Anthony’s opening item as lanky midfielder Denzil Woods stole in at the back post to head in unchallenged past QRC custodian Jadel Poon Lewis. Poon Lewis saw the ball headed into the back of his net in the very next minute but he would have been relieved to hear the whistle of referee Ishmael Mohammed who blew for an offside against Kwesi ‘‘Jep’’ Allen.

There was no such help for the QRC backline just moments later though as Seth Knight was adjudged to have fouled the Premier Division’s top scorer Allen following a Woo ling corner. ‘‘Jep’’ took the penalty himself and dispatched it to make it 2-nil to the ‘Tigers’ in the 30^th minute.

The Royalians offered very little by way of goalmouth threat during the first half and most of their attention was paid to the dangerous duo of Allen and Woo Ling. The strongly built Joshua Prescott looked like the man who was placed with the task of disrupting the ‘Tigers’ play through the middle, and that he tried, sometimes too rough for the liking of the home faithful.

The QRC coaching staff give a stern talk to the team at half time

Despite this, St.Anthony’s made it three in the 48^th minute as Woods turned provider for Woo Ling. Woods cushioned a lovely right-sided cross into the path of Woo Ling who beat the offside trap before coolly applying his finishing touch; it was like a training ground move and the muted celebration reflected that. QRC probably should have pulled a goal back in the 57^th minute but striker Joash Williams failed to keep his header down after he was able to steal some precious yards in the opposing box, much to the displeasure of coach Nigel Grosvenor.

The ‘Tigers’ went on to put the result beyond all reasonable doubt in the 74^th minute when Allen sent a glancing header past Poon Lewis. Woo Ling’s set piece delivery was again the cause of QRC’s demise as they failed to deal with another one of the national youth player’s left-footed crosses.

Matthew Woo Long ominously stands over a dead ball

QRC’s Williams somewhat made up for his earlier miss in the 76^th as he sent ‘Tigers’ goalie Carlton Alfonso the wrong way from the penalty spot after being fouled in the area. This goal would be all the Royalians had to celebrate on the day however and they definitely would be hoping for some better fortune when they come up against the ‘big boys’ in the Premier division next season.

St. Anthony’s on the other hand will be doing battle with East Mucurapo Secondary in the North Zone Intercol Semis come next week Tuesday.