ONCE again and for the second successive day, St Stephen’s Primary custodian Kezia Parkinson (and not Naomi Kezia, as was mistakenly reported yesterday), turned out to be the saviour for her team, this time in their hard-fought semifinal victory over pre-tournament favourites Enterprise Primary.Playing in the Ministry of Health/Health (Guyana) 2000 Inc./Ansa McAl Smalta Girls Under-11 Pee Wee football tournament at the Ministry of Education ground, St Stephen’s came back from a goal down to defeat Enterprise 10-9 on sudden death penalty kicks, following a 1-1 scoreline at the end of regulation time.

This was after witnessing Stella Maris record an upset victory over a game and purposeful-looking West Ruimveldt lineup, who have only themselves to blame for the defeat.
Akeisha Glasgow opened the scoring for Enterprise in the 3rd minute from a goal-mouth scrimmage – a lead they manage to keep to the end of the first half and midway the second, until Glasgow handled the ball in the box, forcing the referee to point to the spot, awarding St Stephen’s a penalty.
A calm and composed Odelle Straughn stepped up to the plate and placed her shot in the left-hand corner to level the game and whilst both teams fought for the go-ahead goal, it was not to be at the end of regulation time.
After the first three penalty kicks were taken by both sides, the scores read 3-3, hence a sudden death shootout took place. Both sides scoring all their kicks, until Parkinson held on to the 10th kick from Enterprise, then watched as her teammate buried hers to claim the win.
In the first semifinal, West Ruimveldt have only themselves to blame for their penalty kicks loss to Stella Maris, who earlier in the year had won the male version of this competition known as the COURTS Pee Wee, at the Banks DIH ground.
West Ruimveldt controlled the run of play throughout the contest, but failed to convert their goal-scoring opportunities that were presented to them throughout, as the game ended nil-all, before Stella Maris won it 2-0 on penalty kicks.
Earlier in the day, East La Penitence gained a walkover from Smith Memorial, who earlier in the tournament was a no-show for their contest against Enterprise, handing them a lifeline when they were on their way out of the competition.
Britney Sampson found the back of the net in the 3rd minute to hand St Pius a 1-0 victory over St Margaret’s. Angel Denny and Kierra Phillips both scored in their 5th minute for North Georgetown and South Ruimveldt, who chalked up respective victories over F.E Pollard and Tucville.
The action will culminate on Thursday at the same venue with the playing of several Plate matches, followed by the third place clash between Enterprise and West Ruimveldt before Stella Maris look to add this title to their Boys’ title, when they go up against St Stephen’s in the final.

(By Calvin Roberts)