By Iva Wharton
Covent Garden Secondary School showed no mercy on the Academy of Professional Studies (APS)whom they thrashed 18-1 as the Digicel Schools football tournament continued yesterday at the Grove Centre Ground.
Such was the display that the only persons keeping count of the goals which rained down like an avalanche were the referees and the young children who seemed to find joy in counting the goals and identifying the scorers.
Single goals were tucked in by Trevon Gaskin in 16th; Kesta Joseph in the 21st; Rodick McKenzie in the 39th and Ronel McLean in the 47th.
Doubles were added by Omali Henry in the 31st and 36th minutes and by Trevor Jones in the 41st and 49th minutes.
Kevin Agard notched up a hat-trick in the fourth, 22nd and 67th minutes and Dominic Garnett blasted home five in the 12th, 24th, 55th, 56th and 65th minutes.
The 18th goal came through a defence error in the 62nd minute.
The lone goal for the Academy of Professional Studies was scored by David Coats in the 57th minute.
Coach of Covent Garden, Kevin Padmore, in an invited comment, said that he expected his team to win but not by such a wide margin.
He added that there were some visible weaknesses in his team’s defence and midfield but those will be rectified by Friday when they play their next match against the winner of the Camille’s Institute and Friendship Secondary game today at the Grove Playfield.
That match was scheduled to be played yesterday at the Kuru Kuru Ground but was postponed after the referee ruled against the use of the ground which was soggy after heavy rainfall.
Padmore said that while he is looking forward to good competition, Friendship is not the team he is hoping to face since, like his team, Friendship team includes a number of players from the Grove Hi Tec team.
At the GFC Ground, Bourda Ascension advanced to the second round without breaking a sweat after Freeburg Secondary failed to put in an appearance. The match was originally scheduled for the Camptown Ground, but was relocated because the ground was unplayable.
Over at the Tucville Ground, Houston Secondary secured a 2-0 victory over Mercy Wings. The goal scorers for Houston were Kevin Douglas in the 52nd minute and Shaquille Grant in the 60th minute.
The tournament continues today at several venues.
