A sizeable crowd was treated to a six goal thriller as Queen’s College and South Ruimveldt battled to a 3-3 draw in the latest action of the Milo U20 School football tournament at the Ministry of Education Ground Carifesta Avenue yesterday.
Organized by the PETRA entity in partnership with the Ministry of Health in the fight against gender violence, the opposing captains were asked to make concise statements in support of the aforementioned cause.
The game began in a cagey manner as the midfield battle erupted. Possessing a host of club players, the boys from South started to dictate proceedings as they attacked their more illustrious counterparts.
Not to be undone by more seasoned antagonists, the QC boys started to press forward as the game slowly began to open up.
A beautifully worked move led to the South unit taking the lead compliments of a Steffon Enno screamer in the 24th minute to send the partisan crowd into jubilation. Unfazed by the respective score line and led by their inspirational skipper Stephen Rutherford, QC continued to press forward and found the equaliser in the 31st minute through their captain, which would prove to one of three goals he would score on the day.
Stunned by their current predicament, the South outfit attacked gallantly only to be found wanting on the counter as the QC unit went on the ascendency as half time sounded.
The second half continued in the same fashion as QC continued to dictate proceedings.
Attacking from the wider areas through the tricky Aftab Crandon, the boys from Camp Street took the lead in the 45th minute through a Rutherford strike to silence the partisan crowd. A look of reservation came over the boys from South as QC consolidated their lead in the 51st minute as Rutherford was on target once more capping off a deserved hat trick.
Urged on by their vocal throng, South Ruimveldt pulled one back through miscommunication between the defence and the goalkeeper allowing Enno to add to his tally in the 54th minute. Sensing the proverbial blood in the water, the South outfit attacked relentlessly searching to restore parity to the proceedings. Constantly under siege, QC boys defended desperately trying to hold on to their slim lead as South Ruimveldt went on the charge led by the skilful Keith Caines in attack. The boys from South were finally rewarded in the 59th minute compliments of a Caines strike, denying a QC impressive upset victory.
In the opening fixture, St. George’s Secondary defeated Tutorial Secondary 2-0 through a Azuma Small double in the 37th and 59th minutes while Bishops’ High edged Cummings Lodge Secondary 3-2 compliments of goals from Nathael King in the 23rd minute and Shamul Lewis who netted in the 33rd & 62nd minutes while Hudgon Henry in the eighth minute and Russell Madramootoo in the 15th minute were on target in a losing effort for Cummings Lodge.
