Christianburg, New Silvercity clash today for bragging rights

By Joe Chapman

DEFENDING champions Christianburg/Wismar ‘Multi’ Secondary and New Silvercity Secondary will clash today for bragging rights and honours in the final of the 10th annual Edward ‘Screw’ Richmond Linden Secondary Schools Under-18 football championship, after they registered 1-0 semi-final victories over Wisburg Secondary and Mackenzie High respectively, on Wednesday afternoon at the Wisburg Secondary School ground.

It will be a repeat of last year’s final where the ‘Multi’ boys turned back the challenge of the New Silvercity lads, posting a 3-1 win.
In the first semi-final New Silvercity ended the unbeaten streak of Mackenzie High in a closely-fought encounter which was decided in the 48th minute when the tournament’s leading goalscorer Emanuel Atkins’ left foot shot from the region of the penalty area to give his team the lone goal of the game.

Atkins, who had previously netted six goals, claimed his seventh, this time after a corner taken by Ojai Whittington was cleared by the defence but he latched on to the ball and in one fluent motion banged the ball goal-wards to score. That proved to be the winner.
In the other semi-final Wisburg, the home team, put up a good show, but were never able to get the ball to the back of their opponents’ net.

It boiled down to a free kick awarded to pressing Christianburg/Wismar from the edge of the 18-yard box on the left side that created the goal.
And the kick, taken by the experienced Omar Brewley was powerful and sailed to the lurking substitute Rawle Semple who was there to head home in the 57th minute to beat the Wisburg goalkeeper on his line.

Like the first semifinal that would also decide the game and the battle for top honours will be decided this afternoon.
The coach of the New Silvercity, Dwalon Farrell, is confident that his side can turn the tables on their opponents. They will field a team which will feature names on the forward line: Shane Haynes and Emanuel Atkins, Ojai Whittington who is second in the score chart with four goals and Donovan Alsopp at midfield while in defence will be Chad Henry and Seon Allicock. Taking up duties in goal will be Deuel Thomas.

Officials from the Upper Demerara Football Association (UDFA) and the Education Department of Region 10 (Upper Demerara/Berbice) are expected to witness the final.
The Christianburg/Wismar Secondary will seek to maintain their dominance over the New Silvercity opponents and coach Dellon Peters is pinning his hopes on Omar Brewley and Randy Pickering up front, Andre Mayers and Brinsley Allicock in midfield and his defence will centre on Randy Douglas and Oshia Prince with Decklan Lee in goal.

The first game between the losing semifinalists will be at 14:45hrs and the final at 16:15hrs at the Wisburg Secondary School ground.