DESPITE the soggy conditions underfoot in some places at the Ministry of Education ground yesterday, the eight quarterfinalists of the Ministry of Health/Health 2000 (Guyana) Inc./ Ansa McAl Smalta Girls Under-11 Pee-Wee football competition churned out enthralling performances for their respective teams.When the dust was settled, three of the matches were decided on penalty kicks, even as Enterprise Primary scored thrice to stop Tucville Primary in what was described as a derby affair in the final matchup of the day’s four

quarterfinal encounters.
Earlier in the day, St. Margaret’s gained a walk over from Smith’s Memorial who were a no-show for their Plate contest, while St. Pius defeated East LaPenitence 2-0 in another Plate encounter, with Britney Sampson scoring a double in the 2nd and 19th minute for St. Pius.
In the first quarterfinal, Stella Maris and North Georgetown Primary played to a nil all draw before Stella Maris came out on top 5-4 via Sudden Death penalty kicks shoot out, while F. E Pollard also lost 4-3 on Sudden Death penalties, following their 1-1 scoreline result with West Ruimveldt Primary.
Nikita Prince scored first for West Ruimveldt in the 19th minute, but two minutes later saw her goal being nullified by the efforts of Omifia Langellier for F.E Pollard, whose players became emotional at the loss.
Great custodial work from Naomi Kezia, guided St. Stephen’s Primary to their 2-1 Sudden Death penalty kicks win over a determined South Ruimveldt unit, after a 0-0 scoreline at the end of regulation time, with Kezia saving three of the five penalty kicks that came her way witH her foot.
The final quarterfinal encounter resulted in a win for Enterprise, whose players were by far the better organised team on the field of play, with an own goal (3rd) coupled with solitary strikes from Alliana George (5th) and Aliyah Alleyne (19th) handing the eventual victors, victory by a 3-0 scoreline.
Today’s activity will conclude with the two semi-finals, but prior to that, the other eight remaining schools will do battle to fill positions 5-12, while the final is billed for Wednesday.

(By Calvin Roberts)