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DELIGHTED over their 6-0 drubbing of 3 Miles Secondary two days before, Waramadong Secondary rode on the back of Kevon Richmond’s brace to defeat Bartica Secondary 5-2 on their home ground last Sunday afternoon.Not only was the win a convincing one for the victorious side who completely dominated their opponents, but it also enabled them to retain their title as Regional champions of Region 7, in this year’s Digicel/PowerAde nationwide Schools Football championships, while earning them a place in the national playoffs, where they face the winner of Region 2 on July 17. The soggy condition underfoot was no problem for the defending champions who controlled the run of play from the opening whistle to the last, amidst a partisan home crowd who came out in their numbers and vociferously supported their team.
Richmond scored his double in the 18th and 32nd minutes of play, which together with Fernando Hunter’s 74th minute goal, Henton Browne’s 84th minute penalty kick and an own goal, accounted for Waramadong’s five strikes, while Bartica skipper Nicolas Collison scored a brace in the 37th and 47th minutes of play respectively for the losers.
The defending champions who placed third in the inaugural tournament two years ago and second to Wismar/Christianburg Multilateral Secondary last year displayed coordination against a team who lacked same while seemly bent on individual glory and showmanship.
Hunter had the chance to give his team the lead in the 3rd minute of play, but his shot was well saved by Shane Luke, the Bartica custodian and at the other end of the field, Waramadong custodian Gerald Isaacs affected a brilliant save in mid-air, from a well-executed corner kick from Brian Joseph.
As the players and even the referee and his assistant adjusted to the conditions underfoot, Waramadong’s frontline which included Richmond, Hunter and Whazir Bascombe, their first game heroes, tested the durability of Bartica’s defence.
At the other end, Collison with little and at times no support from Shaquille Chisolm, tried desperately to pierce their opponents’ defensive lineup which was led by Jasee Morris, with worthy support from Browne, Jonathan George and Brendon Francis.
From a goal mouth scrimmage, which saw Bascombe’s shot rebound heavily off the chest of Luke, Hunter fired in a ripper without hesitation to open the scoring for his side in the 18th minute of play, a goal that was welcomed by his teammates on and off the field of play.
The defending champions swarmed their opponents like bees scenting honey, as they sought to increase their lead, with their defence staving off the attacks of Collison and company and 14 minutes after Hunter scored his first goal, he completed his brace in fine style.
Collison had made a spirited run deep into Waramadong’s penalty area, but the conditions underfoot caused him to slip just as he was about to shoot the ball, following which Browne made a clearance with the ball landing at Bascombe’s feet.
He went around his marker with the greatest of ease and sent a gem of a pass to Hunter, who wasted little or no time in finding the back of the net in the 32nd minute, to hand his team a two-goal advantage.
It was brought down to one goal, when Collison made no mistake from the penalty spot, after he was brought down by Morris in the 37th minute and at lemon time, Waramadong enjoyed a 2-1 lead over their hosts.
A resurgent Bartica lineup took the field for the second half, replacing Luke with Godfrey Norton and two minutes into the half, Collison made the contest an even one, when he beat Isaacs with a curling shot from just outside the box, on the left hand side.
His goal woke up his teammates, who believed they were in with a chance of defeating the defending champions, while it sparked off several raids on Waramadong’s goal area, only to find Isaacs being equal to the task at hand.
As both teams sought for the advantage, it was Waramadong, who in true defending champions style gained the momentum and initiative in the final 15 minutes of the contest, wherein they found the back of the net three times.
Hunter scored from a Myles Albert shot which came loose after Norton failed to hold the cross cleanly, Browne shook the net with a powerful shot taken from the penalty spot 10 minutes later, while an own goal seconds before the whistle sounded, handed Waramadong a three-goal cushion and eventually the win.
Meanwhile, West Demerara Secondary won via walkover from Endeavour Secondary who was a no-show, while results for the other three games played yesterday we5re not available up to press time.
Richmond scored his double in the 18th and 32nd minutes of play, which together with Fernando Hunter’s 74th minute goal, Henton Browne’s 84th minute penalty kick and an own goal, accounted for Waramadong’s five strikes, while Bartica skipper Nicolas Collison scored a brace in the 37th and 47th minutes of play respectively for the losers.
The defending champions who placed third in the inaugural tournament two years ago and second to Wismar/Christianburg Multilateral Secondary last year displayed coordination against a team who lacked same while seemly bent on individual glory and showmanship.
Hunter had the chance to give his team the lead in the 3rd minute of play, but his shot was well saved by Shane Luke, the Bartica custodian and at the other end of the field, Waramadong custodian Gerald Isaacs affected a brilliant save in mid-air, from a well-executed corner kick from Brian Joseph.
As the players and even the referee and his assistant adjusted to the conditions underfoot, Waramadong’s frontline which included Richmond, Hunter and Whazir Bascombe, their first game heroes, tested the durability of Bartica’s defence.
At the other end, Collison with little and at times no support from Shaquille Chisolm, tried desperately to pierce their opponents’ defensive lineup which was led by Jasee Morris, with worthy support from Browne, Jonathan George and Brendon Francis.
From a goal mouth scrimmage, which saw Bascombe’s shot rebound heavily off the chest of Luke, Hunter fired in a ripper without hesitation to open the scoring for his side in the 18th minute of play, a goal that was welcomed by his teammates on and off the field of play.
The defending champions swarmed their opponents like bees scenting honey, as they sought to increase their lead, with their defence staving off the attacks of Collison and company and 14 minutes after Hunter scored his first goal, he completed his brace in fine style.
Collison had made a spirited run deep into Waramadong’s penalty area, but the conditions underfoot caused him to slip just as he was about to shoot the ball, following which Browne made a clearance with the ball landing at Bascombe’s feet.
He went around his marker with the greatest of ease and sent a gem of a pass to Hunter, who wasted little or no time in finding the back of the net in the 32nd minute, to hand his team a two-goal advantage.
It was brought down to one goal, when Collison made no mistake from the penalty spot, after he was brought down by Morris in the 37th minute and at lemon time, Waramadong enjoyed a 2-1 lead over their hosts.
A resurgent Bartica lineup took the field for the second half, replacing Luke with Godfrey Norton and two minutes into the half, Collison made the contest an even one, when he beat Isaacs with a curling shot from just outside the box, on the left hand side.
His goal woke up his teammates, who believed they were in with a chance of defeating the defending champions, while it sparked off several raids on Waramadong’s goal area, only to find Isaacs being equal to the task at hand.
As both teams sought for the advantage, it was Waramadong, who in true defending champions style gained the momentum and initiative in the final 15 minutes of the contest, wherein they found the back of the net three times.
Hunter scored from a Myles Albert shot which came loose after Norton failed to hold the cross cleanly, Browne shook the net with a powerful shot taken from the penalty spot 10 minutes later, while an own goal seconds before the whistle sounded, handed Waramadong a three-goal cushion and eventually the win.
Meanwhile, West Demerara Secondary won via walkover from Endeavour Secondary who was a no-show, while results for the other three games played yesterday we5re not available up to press time.
