GEORGETOWN zone champions in the Digicel Inter-Secondary School Football Championships, St George’s, were made to work extra hard by their nemesis Dolphin, before they eked out a 4-2 penalty kicks win in their opening match of this year’s tournament yesterday afternoon.

On the same day, St Mary’s, who were led by a hat-trick off the boot of Andell Smith, waltzed away with an 11-1 victory over hapless New Campbellville Secondary, in their contest that was played at the Police Sports Club ground, Eve Leary.
At the Ministry of Education ground, St George’s started the contest shakily and were forced to stave off several attacks from their opponents who were purposeful in their endeavours against the defending champions.
As play progressed in the first half, St George’s found their footing and began to string together several passes, which were fumbled by their strikers, led by Orin Moore. Dolphin’s defence, which was marshalled by their skipper Job Caesar, worked overtime to keep the slate clean at halftime, in collaboration with Dante Forde, his custodian.
After the break St George’s, with the Atlantic Ocean wind on their backs, made several raids on Dolphin’s goal area but found Forde equal to the task, while at the other end, St George’s custodian Royston Dublin was called upon to effect several saves.
However, from a goalmouth scrimmage, Leon Richardson broke the deadlock in the 59th minute for Dolphin. He intercepted a pass that was intended for Moore, from his skipper Okeri Codrington, midway inside St George’s half, eluded the defence and an advancing Dublin, and calmly placed the ball in the back of the net.
The goal awoke St George’s who found themselves behind the eight ball and began to create several chances, only to find a determined Forde in the line of defence for his team, who were happy to defend their one-goal advantage.
Displaying a never-say-die attitude, St George’s won a corner kick that was taken by Quincy Lawrence, whose well-weighted cross found an unmarked Travis Cotton on the last post for which the diminutive player said thanks by calmly placing the ball into an open goal area, to level the score in the 64th minute.
With no more goals materialising during regulation time, penalty kick was chosen to arrive at a winner, following which Dolphin missed two of their four kicks, while St George’s in true championship spirit, nailed all four of theirs, to come away with the win.
At Eve Leary, Smith found the back of the net in the 9th, 35th and 42nd minutes of play and backed by a double from Raffiel Bollers (19th, 89th) along with solitary strikes from Raphael Charles (17th), Alyne Haynes (60th), Sean Turney (65th), Lennox Cort (67th) and Colin Denny (72nd), guided St. Mary’s to the massive win, with NCSS goal coming off the boot of Charles from a defensive error.
At the Wisburg ground in Linden, Mackenzie High handed their hosts Wisburg Secondary their exit ticket from the tournament, after coming away with a 3-0 win, thanks to goals from Quailon Andries (9th), Kellon Primo (24th) and Anthony Allicock (55th) respectively.
Written By Calvin Roberts