By Sports Reporter: Ian Prescott/Photos: JERMAINE CRUICKSHANK
Last season’s Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) champions Fatima College opened their 2024 campaign on a winning note, edging defending InterCol champions Presentation College (San Fernando) 2-1 in the season opener, to lift the NGC Cup at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, yesterday.
Fatima got goals on either side of half time, from Luke Correia in added-on time before the interval, before sealing the win after a late penalty from Mathew Barrington.
However, there was still more drama when Cody Cooper’s header went in off a defender, possibly an own-goal, with the final kick of the match and six minutes into added-on time.
Neither team would have instilled a fear-factor into their other competitors. What appeared most evident was a lack of early-season conditioning, with several players from both teams suffering cramps and match-fitness issues.
“A lot of guys pulled up with cramps, although today was a hot day,” noted Fatima coach Hutson Charles. “We will be looking at all that and look to rectify it.”
With both teams struggling to find their feet early, very little separated the teams in the first half, the only goal coming in stoppage time, with Correia arriving late atop the center of the penalty area and caressing a low shot to the corner of the net.
With a strike force that still includes known goal-scorers Caleb Boyce and Vaughn Clement, one expected more bite from Pres Sando. But they met a very organised Fatima, which despite struggling for fluidity themselves, presented a solid structure.
“Pres” did have a go of trying to equalize early in the second half, with Clement nearly getting a close-up shot at diminutive custodian Shamiel O’Brien, until a last gap outstretched leg saw defender Barrington prod the ball wide.
It all changed when Fatima was awarded a penalty, which Barrington converted in the 80th minute.
With Fatima attacking, Josiah Gobin shot quickly, striking a defender point-blank and giving him no chance to react. Referee Cecile Hinds pointed to the penalty spot, ignoring the defender’s explanation that he was too close to have gotten out of the way.
“What did she expect the player to do from that distance,” Presentation head-coach Shaun Cooper argued afterward. To their credit, “Pres” was able to pull a goal back, national youth captain Cooper heading on a corner-kick and seeing it deflect of a defender past substitute Fatima goalkeeper Logan Hamel-Smith.
For Charles, winning the NGC Cup was a bonus, although he admits there is much work to be done. “We made a lot of mistakes,” Charles admitted. “It’s something we will work on come next week. But today, I’m satisfied that we pulled through and won this cup. Cooper added: “All kudos go to Fatima, they played a good game,” while adding that he, too, has issues to work on.
