SIR Leon Lessons mauled Dolphin Secondary 9 – 0 while Chase Academy played in an entertaining 4 – 2 win over Morgan Learning Centre as both teams advanced to the quarter-finals of this year’s Digicel School’s Football Tournament.Apart from booking a spot in the quarter-final and inching closer to the ‘Holy Grail’, Sir Leon Lessons clinched the South Zone title while Chase picked up the North Zone championship trophy.

Playing at the Leonora Track and Field Facility, Chase Academy and Morgan Learning Centre put on a ‘classic showdown’ that was marred by poor officiating.

The Kingston Georgetown based team was guided into the next round with a hat-trick from Kelsey Benjamin in the 41st, 71st, and 73rd minutes and a lone strike from Andre Trotz in the 59th minute.

Orin Moore tried but failed to lift the Gregory ‘Jackie Chan’ Richardson coached school with a double; first finding the net in the 17th and 78th minute.

The clash between the two city giants was supposed to be ‘the game of the tournament’ but it seemed like referee Sherwin Moore had other thoughts.

Referee Moore awarded Chase Academy a penalty 15 minutes into the contest when their striker dived in the 18 yards area even though the defender clearly didn’t touch him.

However, Morgan’s goalie Ronell Roberts was equal to the task denying Ryan Hackett after picking the right side to keep the eventual winners at bay.

Moore’s opening goal was a beauty – a curling freekick from approximately 30 yards out from goal – hitting it hard as the ball sailed into the top right hand corner of Chase Academy’s goal.

Kelsey Benjamin had an opportunity to equalize from point-blank range inside the six yard box but Roberts again read the play perfectly to make the stop but was injured in the process after a Chase Academy player unintentionally stepped on his hand.

Moore, probably the best player on Morgan’s team, was forced to now go between the uprights since the team didn’t have a substitute keeper.

The first half ended with the scores deadlocked at the goal apiece but Chase Academy in the 59th minute again were handed a goal; this time an offside when a player attempted a freekick from almost the centre of the field and the ball rebounded off the post to Trotz as the Assistant Referee failed to raise his flag despite the blatant play.

Fans certainly agreed and assistant coach Travis ‘Zorro’ Grant was eventually sent off the bench for strongly voicing his disapproval.

As the game progressed and the referee’s calls were becoming more unashamed, Chase Academy were already way in front and held on for the win.

Meanwhile, the opening game of the double header was a one-sided affair with Dolphin Secondary being literally steamrolled by Sir Leon Lessons.