DISPLAYING a never-say-die attitude, the Cactus Street, West Ruimveldt-based Ascension Secondary School came from behind to defeat Cummins Lodge 2-1, in their fourth annual Digicel Inter-Secondary School Football Championship match at the Ministry of Education ground yesterday afternoon.

Also recording victories in yesterday matches were Leonora Secondary who swamped Endeavour Secondary 16-0, while Ann’s Grove, Ash Educational Institute and Morgan Institute defeated Buxton Youth Development, Number 8 Secondary and St John’s College by 4-0 margin respectively.
At the Ministry of Education ground, Cummins Lodge and Ascension started their contest shaggily until the an Obadiah Marks free kick for Cummings Lodge went marginally wide of Ascension’s goal, whose custodian Akeem Hinds was left stranded like a sailor in open waters, on the last post.
As they composed themselves, Ascension staged numerous attacks on their opponents’ goal, only to see the chances go abegging, while Cummings Lodge’s Zeemario Johnny sent the first shot for his team to goal in the 22nd minute, only to find a stubborn Hinds in the way.
After a see-saw battle, Cummings Lodge took the lead in the 27th minute when DeSales Joseph scored from a goal-mouth scrimmage, beating Hinds to his right, following a poor clearance by the beanpole custodian and his defence – a lead which they took into halftime.
Spurred by the encouraging words of former national player Dion Barnwell, Ascension came out with a determined attitude in the second half, running at their opponents at will, following which they won a penalty in the 47th minute, after one of their forwards was brought down in the box.
Hinds stepped out of his goal and scored the spot kick which nullified the Cummings Lodge lead, even as his goal brought renewed energy into his teammates, who fought tooth and nail with their opponents for every loose ball.
Not to be outdone, Cummings Lodge made several raids at their opponents’ goal, but a stubborn Hinds was there to prevent them from taking the lead, as he effected several saves off the boots of Johnny and Brandon Joseph within the space of five minutes.
A spirited effort from Ascension in the dying minutes of the contest saw them win another penalty following a handled ball in the box from a goal-mouth scrimmage, which was taken by Hinds, who beat Cummings Lodge custodian in the same position as he did with the first spot kick in the 70th minute to seal the victory for his team and place them in the second round.
At Camp Ayanganna ground, Morgan Institute, through a Wayne Murray hat-trick scored in the 22nd, 39th and 47th minutes of play, backed by Sherwin Haynes 32nd minute goal, defeated St John’s College 4-0.
At the Beterverwagting ground on the East Coast of Demerara, Ann’s Grove on the back of a Darrel Pellew brace which he got in the 10th and 48th minute, along with solitary strikes from Deanie Griffith (5th) and Nikosie Denny (26th) defeated Buxton Youth Development 4-0.
At the Number 8 ground in West Berbice, two own goals that were scored in the 45th and 53rd minutes, along with Emmanuel Peters’ strike in the 47th and Keron Arthur 82nd minute goal, piloted Ash Education Institute to a 4-0 win over Number 8 Secondary.
At Uitvlugt, Leonora Secondary blanked Endeavour Secondary 16-0 with Gavin Graham (3rd, 38th, 42nd, 66th, 67th); Jamal Ferreira (7th, 51st); Rawle Martin (11th, 20th); Marlon Atwell (15th, 47th); Scottie Leitch (23rd, 58th); Ryan Jack (24th), Lindie Scott (28th) and Daniel Clarke (60th), being the players responsible for Leonora’s goals.
Written By Calvin Roberts