AMIDST soggy conditions underfoot, favourites Campbellville Secondary School came away with a 2-0 victory over a tired-looking North Ruimveldt Secondary School yesterday at the Tucville ground, when action in the second annual Digicel-sponsored nationwide Inter-secondary school football competition continued. Also recording victories were St George’s and Friendship Secondary who overcame North Georgetown Secondary and Camille’s Institute respectively, while Linden Foundation gained a walkover from Mackenzie High School in Linden.
At the Georgetown Football Club ground, no play was possible between Queen’s College and David Rose Secondary, as the venue was once again unfit for the game, forcing the organisers to reschedule the encounter which will now be played at the Tucville ground this afternoon.
Unlike the previous afternoon when Houston Secondary faced Mercy Wings at the Tucville ground, North Ruimveldt Secondary and Campbellville provided entertainment for the small but appreciative crowd on hand, despite the conditions underfoot.
Both teams wasted several goal-scoring opportunities in the early stages of the first half, as both custodians Oknorbi Roberts (North Ruimveldt) and Amanacke Forde (Campbellville Secondary) thwarted their opponents’ strikers on several occasions with athletic saves.
Surprisingly, when Keon David found the back of the net for Campbellville in the 20th minute, it knocked the wind out of the opposition’s sails, while at the same time rejuvenated his teammates both on the field of play and off it.
When play continued in the second half, a purposeful-looking North Ruimveldt unit went in search of the equaliser and should have scored same in the 57th minute from the penalty spot which they won following a handled ball, but their skipper Tefon Daly’s shot was blocked by Forde, while Campbellville’s defence cleared the loose ball.
Ten minutes later and after much resistance from both Forde and Roberts, David rose in the air in Drogba-like fashion to head home a cross to give his team a 2-0 lead, one that they defended sternly until the final whistle.
At the Carifesta Sports Complex ground, Robby Nicholas found the back of the net in the 27th minute for St George’s who led North Georgetown Secondary 1-0 at halftime, only to see Keon Douglas snatch the equaliser from the penalty spot in the 41st minute, following a handled ball in the area.
North Georgetown’s celebrations were short-lived, as Azuma Smartt sent his team into the lead in the 45th minute, one that they maintained until the final whistle. Friendship Secondary recorded a commanding 7-1 victory over Camille’s Institute at the Grove Community Centre ground.