Leonora High School of Region Three yesterday defeated St. John’s College 3-1 at the Ministry of Education ground, Carifesta Avenue when the third edition of Digicel Schools football countrywide championships kicked off.
The game, which followed the symbolic kick off by Digicel’s Marketing Manager, Jacqueline James, in the presence of Guyana Football Federation (GFF) president Christopher Matthias, Digicel’s CEO Gregory Dean, Digicel’s Representative Shonette Moore and Ministry of Education’s Arnold Sookraj, was exciting and fast paced.
Only one goal was scored in the first half despite equal ball possession by the two teams. The opening goal was netted by Leonora’s Andrew Fowler who headed home in the 11th minute. Fowler was lucky to make contact with the ball after it rebounded from a St. John’s defender and went airborne.
Despite several attempts by the eventual losers to equalize all their attempts were in vain as Tutorial took the 1-0 cushion into lemon time.
National junior sprint champion, Tevin Garraway showed that he was adept at more than one sports discipline by scoring one minute after the resumption.
Garraway took a clean right foot shot at goal in the 46th minute which beat the St. John’s custodian all ends up.
Stephon Bentinck managed to pull back one for St. John’s in the 53rd minute after Leonora’s goalkeeper was caught napping but Gavin Graham, put the issue beyond doubt with a left foot shot in the 85th minute to seal his team’s 3-1 triumph. The four quarterfinals teams have been selected following a lottery draw. According to the draw, the winner of Regions 3 and 4 will play the first quarter final; the winner of Regions 5 and 9 will play Region 10, the Region 6 champions will play the Georgetown zone winner and the victor of the Region 2 and 7 clash will oppose the winner of the Regions 1 and 8 playoff.
Meanwhile in Region 7 yesterday, Waramadong mauled Miles Secondary 6-0 with Keevon Richmond, Fernando Hunter and Whazir Bascom scoring two goals each in the 9th and 56th, 13th and 60th and 48th and 54th minutes respectively.
The tournament, which is a collaborative effort between Digicel and local beverage giants, Banks DIH Limited continues on Wednesday.
