Clarke nets hat- trick as Annandale dispose of QC

… Waramadong go into action today

FORTY-EIGHT hours ago, Annandale Secondary School churned out a clinical performance to dispose of Uitvlugt Secondary in their opening fixture of this year’s Kashif and Shanghai/Chico Elite Next Generation football championships.Not that anyone questioned their ability to win matches as they had came from behind to defeat Uitvlugt at Den Amstel,
So Annandale turned up in true fashion at the Georgetown Football Club ground last Thursday to send Queen’s College (QC) packing from the tournament with a commanding 5-2 win.
This time, they were indebted to Dimitri Clarke’s hat-trick of goals scored in the 77th, 87th and 90th minutes of play, that ensured Annandale not only win, but also earn themselves a place in the quarterfinals.
Also making it to the quarterfinals were Petra Organisation/Milo Under-18 champions St George’s Secondary, who displayed their superiority with a 4-1 drubbing over East Ruimveldt.
As was evident when they opposed Uitvlugt, Annandale conceded an early goal when Kabian Daly pierced their defence and custodian in the 13th minute to give the Thomas Lands-based QC the lead, one that they enjoyed at lemon-time with the score reading 1-0.
Annandale’s first game hero Kristoff Stoll nullified that lead with his 56th minute strike, but an own goal that was scored four minutes later, sent QC back into the lead, even as Clarke was working overtime in the latter stages of the first half to negate Daly’s goal.
With Stoll showcasing his class on the left flank, Clarke’s work was made easy even as his side were energised from Stoll’s exploits and in the 77th minute, he give them the equaliser followed by the go-ahead goal 10 minutes later, while he placed the icing on the cake by completing his hat-trick on the stroke of full time, to send QC packing, even as his teammates embraced in wild celebrations.
Despite having to wait a lengthy time to begin their contest due to a power outage, St George’s scored all four goals in the first half, thanks to Adolph George (28th), Robby McDoggan (31st), Jermaine Scott (39th) and Neil Cameron (44th) to dispose of East Ruimveldt whose goal came off the boot of their skipper Romel Legall.
Meanwhile, the action will continue today at the same venue, with Dolphin Secondary matching skills with Charlestown Secondary, who will be looking to Omari James, Josiah Charles and Mervin Carter to take them to the round of 16 in the opening fixture which kicks off at 16:00hrs.
In the second match which gets under way at 18:00hrs, North Georgetown Secondary who gained a 3-2 win over Patentia Secondary in their first game, will go up against pre-tournament favourites and two-time Digicel Secondary School football championships runners-up Waramadong Secondary.
Digicel’s 2013 tournament Most Valuable Player (MVP) Whazir Bascombe along with Jasey Morris, Carvin Kramer and Gerald Isaacs, will lead the Waramadong side who are currently encamped at the Windjammer Hotel in Kitty, thanks to the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport and Bushy Park Sawmill among others, in their quest for opening honours this afternoon.

(Calvin Roberts)