THANKS to a Ryan Hackett first-half hattrick, Lodge Secondary School yesterday afternoon issued North Georgetown Secondary with their marching orders out of the inaugural Premiership Sports Promotion (PSP) Under-17 Inter-Secondary School football championship, with a 6-0 defeat at the Ministry of Education ground.

After seeing Tutorial defeat a game East Ruimveldt Secondary 2-0 in the first game that was contested in sweltering conditions, North Georgetown were forced to wait for close to 45 minutes for the arrival of their opponents, who encountered transportation problems to the venue.
However, when they got there they were already attired in their outfit and ready to play, hence both teams took the field, following which Ryan Hackett scored his first goal in the 2nd minute – a deflected shot that nestled in the back of the net.
Three minutes later Kevin Boters made it 2-0 for Lodge Secondary, when he beat North Georgetown’s pint-sized custodian with a well-placed shot on his near post. After a keen tussle for supremacy in midfield, both Ryan Hackett and Boters doubled their team’s lead with goals that were scored five minutes apart.
Hackett first did so in the 22nd minute from a goal-mouth scrimmage, while Boters wormed his way past the defence and calmly slotted the ball home, much to the delight of his teammates and detriment to his opponents.
From another goal-mouth scrimmage, Hackett’s younger brother Simeon Hackett placed his name on the scoresheet in the 31st minute to make it 5-0 and when Lodge won a free kick just before the halftime whistle sounded, Ryan Hackett, with precision and placement, used the Atlantic Ocean wind to place the ball into the back of the net from approximately 50 metres out to complete his hattrick.
Not to be outdone, North Georgetown had the opportunity to place their name on the scoresheet twice, but Hakeem Roach, in goal for Lodge, thwarted the efforts of Osafa Mathieson on his near post and later Joshua Ferreira ensured his side kept a clean sheet.
Unlike the first half when Lodge dominated proceedings, North Georgetown gave a better showing of themselves in the second half, cutting off plays and even working the ball around, but great custodial work from Roach prevented them from placing their name in the scorers column, while his team came away with the win.
In the first game, Tutorial proved their superiority over East Ruimveldt Secondary, who lacked coordination and suffered a 2-0 defeat, despite being in control of the game.
David Coates missed several scoring opportunities for Tutorial due to selfish play, but when he decided to play team football, he found an unmarked Steve Stanton in the 18-yard box. His first-time volley rocked the net in the 21st minute for the 1-0 lead their side took at lemon time.
After the break, Coates and Stanton created a partnership to terrorise East Ruimveldt’s defence, one that worked until Coates was found in the off-side position several times, until the 51st minute when he faked a pass to Coates and powerfully sent his shot to the back of the net to make it 2-0.
The action continues today at the same venue with another double-header, that features Bishops’ High taking on Queen’s College in the first encounter from 13:00hrs, followed by Richard Ishmael and North Ruimveldt clashing in the second from 15:00hrs.
The winners of the tournament will pocket $200 000, while the team placing second are guaranteed $150 000 with third- and fourth-place finishers receiving $100 000 and $75 000 respectively.
All matches will be played at the Ministry of Education ground, including the final and third-place playoff, which are scheduled for Sunday, December 21.

(By Calvin Roberts)