TRINITY COLLEGE East and El Dorado East Secondary battled to a 2-2 draw yesterday when they finally got the chance to begin their 2011 BG T&T Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) campaign.

Dorado's opening game was cancelled after match officials failed to report for duty at the Larry Gomes Stadium on Wednesday, while Trinity was the only East Zone team on a bye that day.

The referee no-show resulted in the postponement of the East Zone doubleheader, which would have featured games between San Juan North Secondary and Arima North Secondary, and defending "Big Five" champions St. Augustine Secondary and El Dorado East Secondary.

El Dorado and Trinity will be looking to better their fourth and fifth placing, respectively, in last year's league competition.

The two teams, however, began their season yesterday with a mixed performance at Squadron Grounds in Arouca.

In the first ten minutes of the game, Trinity was able to dominate proceedings, retaining most of the possession and creating problems for their opponent. Trinity made early inroads on their left-hand side with midfielder Tahj Selvon.

Selvon managed to create space and was able to deliver some telling crosses that his teammates were unable to convert.

Trinity was rewarded in the 15th minute when a free kick from Chryston Browne swerved into the net and left El Dorado goalkeeper Hakeem Lucas rooted to the spot.

Ironically, the goal had a positive effect on El Dorado's play and they in turn dominated the next 15 minutes. This resulted in an equaliser in the 31st by Shakir Cole.

El Dorado piled on the pressure and kept the ball in their opponents' half.

In the dying seconds of the first half, against the run of play, Trinity's Rommel Goodridge received a through pass from Ricardo John on the right flank and was subsequently brought down in the area.

Without hesitation, the referee pointed to the spot and awarded Trinity a penalty which was converted by Akil Noel in the 45th minute, which brought the half to an end.

The second half, though keenly contested, failed to produce clear-cut chances for either team.

In the 84th minute, El Dorado's Shaquille Bertrand was also fouled in the 18-yard box and the referee awarded the game's second penalty.

Joseph Browne stepped up to the spot and equalized, ensuring that his team walked away from this encounter with a point.

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