By Duncan Saul
Christianburg/Wismar Secondary again solidified their status as the nation’s leading football institution by clinching their third consecutive national title, defeating Waramadong Secondary 2-0 when the Digicel U-18 Secondary Schools football tourney concluded Sunday.
Witnessed by a large gathering at the National Stadium in Providence, a Camal George own goal in the 46th minute and a Donovan Francis 68th minute attempt settled the outcome.
In a matchup of few chances, Waramadong Secondary would fashion the first real attempt on goal in the 20th minute through a Myles Albert right footed strike from the just outside the centre of the penalty area which sailed just wide of the lower right hand corner.
Christianburg/Wismar would come close to breaking the deadlock 10 minutes later compliments of a curling left-footed Shane Luckie effort that flew just wide of the right corner, from on top of the centre of the 18-yard box.
The deadlock would eventually be broken as a Francis effort from the left side of the area following a one-on-one with the goalkeeper, came crashing off the right upright, striking George on the leg as he attempted to clear the ball off the goal line and rolled into the goal.
The win would then be sealed 22 minutes later as Francis netted, placing his effort into the lower right hand corner of the goal, following another one-on-one with the opposing custodian within the left side of the box, after pouncing on a botched clearance by the Waramadong backline.
With the win, the Linden side walked away with the championship trophy and the first prize of $1,000,000 towards the funding of any school project. They also earned the right to keep the Lien Trophy for winning the tournament three times.
Waramadong for their efforts collected the second place accolade, silver medals and the $600,000 for the funding of any school project. In the third place playoff, Region Five champions Bush Lot Secondary edged Region Four holders Beterverwagting (BV) Secondary by a 3-1 margin.
The Berbicians would take the early lead in the fifth minute as a flat right footed Jevon McKenzie strike from the right side of the area, went inexplicably through the hands of the goalkeeper and into the back of the net.
Paul Kingston equalized for the East Coast of Demerara unit three minutes later, directing his header down the middle of the goal, after collecting a cross from the right side of the field within the centre of the penalty area.
Bush Lot Secondary would eventually retake the lead in the 68th minute as Enlon Forde found the back of the net, placing his right footed shot into the back of the net, after latching onto a right sided cross from a corner kick.
Fordyce would then seal the win in the 82 minute, completing his second half double with a right footed strike into the right hand corner of the goal, after collecting a perfectly placed right sided cross within the centre of the area.
Due to the win, Bush Lot Secondary pocketed the third place title, bronze medals and $400,000 towards the building of a school project. For finishing in the fourth position, BV Secondary received the respective accolade and $200,000 towards the funding of a project for the school.
At the presentation ceremony that commenced at the conclusion of the event, Christianburg/Wismar’s Joshua Douglas was adjudged to be the tournament’s best shot-stopper while Annai Secondary’s Garville Daniels was awarded with the tournament’s top scorer award for netting 11 goals.
The final four teams were also presented with smart phones from Digicel at the conclusion of the presentation ceremony.
