9 hours ago
6
Senior Multimedia Reporter
Promoted Speyside High School, buoyed by its 2-1 win over former powerhouse Signal Hill Secondary, will aim for a second win in as many outings when the Secondary Schools Football League Boys’ Premier Division continues today with a full slate of matches.
On Saturday last, at Shaw Park Sporting Complex, Scarborough, Jaquan Bernard scored with five minutes left on the clock as Speyside High School marked their return to the Premier Division with a 2-1 win over Signal Hill Secondary.
Tevez Smith fired Speyside ahead in the 31st minute in the fixture, which was brought forward from round 14 on Saturday, October 31, due to Tobago Carnival celebrations.
However, with ten minutes left in the match, Ackim Duncan got the equalizer for Signal Hill Secondary, only for Bernard to net the decisive item in the 85th minute.
However, today, Speyside will make the journey over to Trinidad for a clash with Queen’s Royal College (QRC) at QRC Ground in St. Clair from 3.40 pm, while back in Tobago, Signal Hill will look to rebound from its defeat when they host another promoted team in Mucurapo West Secondary at Signal Hill Ground.
Looking ahead to his team’s first outing away from home, Alex Simon, coach of Speyside High, said his players were excited and eagerly looking forward to the match against the Royalians, as QRC is known.
“Beating Signal Hill in our opening match was a real boost to the team morale, and the confidence of the team is excellent going into our second match.
Reflecting on the win over Tobago, Simon said his team went into the match on a mission.
‘The guys were out to avenge our loss to Signal Hill in the Tobago Inter-Col final last year 4-3 after we led 3-0, and they managed to achieve their goal.”
Simon was also full of praise for match winner Jaquan Bernard, a Form One student who came off the bench to get the winner.
“He (Bernard) has only been in the school for five days as a Form One student, and the person was questioning why I was putting him into the match instead of another player. But, as coach of the team, you have to know your players, and from his time with us in training, I know what he was capable of producing for us, and he came on and did well.”
With regards to his team’s aim for the season, Simon said they will be taking it one match at a time.
He said, “We are going to be taking each game in stride and not get ahead of ourselves. For me, football is the priority, and while beating Signal Hill was a great feeling, that game is now behind us, and we must focus on our next match against QRC.”
At Trinity College Ground in Moka, Maraval, Trinity College will hope to add to the woes of last season’s runner-up and former champion St Benedict’s College, which suffered a 6-0 thrashing at the hands of reigning champions, Naparima College, in the season-opening SSFL Premier Division Super Cup match last Friday at Ato Boldon Stadium, in Balmain, Couva.
In a key first-round meeting, Presentation College of San Fernando hosts Arima North Secondary at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella, while another former champion team, Fatima College will hosts Malick Secondary School at Fatima Ground at Mucurapo Road; St. Anthony’s College hosts newly promoted Hillview College at St. Anthony’s College Ground, Westmoorings; St. Mary College welcomes St. Augustine Secondary School at St. Mary’s College Ground, St. Clair; and Trinity College East and San Juan North Secondary meet at Trinity East College Ground in Trincity.
Titleholder Naparima College is on a bye today and will kick off the defense of their title at their Lewis Street, San Fernando, home ground, hosting Trinity College, Moka, on Saturday, September 19, in round two.
English (US) ·