By Daniel Haynes

IN a match that was merely the supporting cast for the Guyana versus Canada showdown on Sunday night, Milo champions Chase Academy took on the Digicel Nationwide champions Christianburg/Wismar Secondary.This game, however, was far more competitive as it finished with a score line of 2-1 in favour of Chase Academy.
Played in front a small crowd of faithful fans made up of school football followers, parents and friends, the game proved to be a physical one from the first whistle.
The game was also played at an aggressive pace, with Wismar players holding an advantage in height and size but the shorter Chase team levelled the playing field with pace on and off the ball.
The possession tally told the story of the game with Chase holding more possession as well as having more purposeful drives at goals. Chase also had quick one passes both aerially and along the ground. When Wismar did attack their assaults were stopped by the Chase defence which was led by captain Jeremy Garrett.
Chase’s first goal of the game came on a counterattack when Ralph Parris was brought down in the penalty box by an errant tackle from a Wismar defender. Jeremy Garrett calmly stepped up to the penalty spot and blasted one just under the bar in the middle of goal, as the goalkeeper dived to his right and the game went into halftime break 1-0.
At the start of the second half the intensity of the game kicked into a higher gear with Wismar playing even more physical. Just like in the first half through Garrett, Wismar evened up the game and opened their account from the penalty strike. Brian Johnson on a blinding drive was brought down by a defender.
He then stepped up to the spot to put one down the middle to tie the game up and make it interesting down the stretch.
But under the bright lights Chase would not be denied and Kelsey Benjamin scored the decisive goal with a clinical volley while falling down that beat the keeper. From there it was tight defence from Chase who held their nerves to finish the game 2-1.
Chase coach Vurlon Wills commented on the win by saying, “We expected them to come at us physically; they hold the advantage with their height but we knew once we played our brand of football and played the passes, we could win.”
He finished by saying the win was just another day at the office for the Chase side.