CHRISTIANBURG Wismar/Secondary ‘Multi’ needled their way past Wisburg Secondary to cop their third straight Edward ‘Screw’ Richmond Linden Secondary Schools Under-18 football championship, and cart off the coveted trophy for keeps, Thursday evening, when the final was played at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground. On hand to witness this final were United States-based Edward ‘Screw’ Richmond Foundation president Ernest Joseph and other members like Compton ‘Cha Cha’ London and Canada-based James ‘Gads’ Dennis among others.

Playing with the poise of true champions, the Digicel triple-time National Schools football champions saw their prolific striker Shane Lucky deliver the lone deciding goal of the encounter as early as the 7th minute and held their nerves to the end for that important win and another prestigious championship.
The game started well for both teams looking to make the final fling for honours but this soon tilted for the defending champions, when the combination of Duquan Hercules, their captain, at midfield presented Lucky with a through ball as he moved past his marker and from about the centre circle unleashed a powerful drive that went past the flailing hands of a beaten Jonathan Copeland, the Wisburg goalkeeper.
Wisburg did try to cancel out that advantage but the defence of the ‘Multi ‘ side – Seon Barret, Keshawn Dey, Amaniki Buntin and Pedro Hamilton – at times dominated with their strong tackles and a keen sense of anticipation proved too stiff to get past.
Wisburg’s best chance came in the 29th minute with the ball played in the centre forcing the ‘Multi’ keeper Fitzgerald Cobena to advance in the air and punch away a dangerous situation. This was followed in the 34th minute with a cross from the corner and the ball collected by William Benn was hit over the crossbar.
Another chance for Wisburg was presented before the half-time whistle as Benn again had a chance to notch up a goal after the ball was missed by a high rising Cobena in the 18-yard box close to the right upright. Just one minute before the half-time whistle, yet another chance for Wisburg was wasted.
In all of this the champions were hanging their hopes on their captain Hercules who, with Jonathan Simon, was purposeful in the midfield department linking with courageous striker Shane Lucky and fearless Kellon Primo up front.
The half-time whistle came with the score 1-0 for the reigning champions, and after the break Wisburg upped the ante seeking an equaliser. But ‘Multi’ remained resolute in their quest for a third title and while a few chances did come, it was in the 88th minute that Wisburg muffed another chance.
The ball was played in the box where it fell from the grasp of Cobena and surprisingly where no player from Wisburg was able to send the ball to the back of the net. It therefore allowed the Christianburg/Wismar Secondary in the end to capture their third title in a row.
Christianburg/Wismar Secondary’s Shane Lucky copped the Top Goalscorer award for his tournament-high five goals and also the Best Forward prize. Duquan Hercules was named Best Defender.
For the losing Wisburg side their goalkeeper Jonathan Copeland was Best Goalkeeper and Orlando Adams Best Defender.

By Joe Chapman