West Demerara Secondary overcame Patentia Secondary 4-2 on penalty kicks when the 6th annual Digicel Secondary Schools Football Championship continued yesterday at the Leonora Sports Facility.
With the score locked at 2-2 in what was easily the most competitive fixture to date, penalty kicks were required to decide the outcome.
Asked to take first strike, Patentia made no mistake as they netted. West Demerara responded in equal measure as they scored in their first attempt to level the contest.
It is from this point where the momentum changed sides as Patentia missed from the mark. This allowed West Demerara to take a 2-1 advantage as they scored from the mark.
West Demerara maintained their lead as both teams scored from the distance in the third round.
However, Patentia fell further behind as they missed from the mark to start the fourth round. Needing only a conversion to seal the contest, West Demerara made no mistake from the spot as they scored.
Prior to the conclusion, Eon King gave Patentia the initial lead in sublime manner in the eighth minute, unleashing a curling left side strike from 28 yards out which sailed into the back of the net.
Glenroy Duncan equalised for West Demerara in the 14th minute, racing onto a lobbed pass between the defensive line inside the box, before lobbing his shot over the onrushing goalkeeper into the net.
The back and forth nature of the fixture continued as Patentia re-established their lead in the 19th minute in the form of King, who sealed his second with a penalty conversion into the lower left hand corner following a handball infraction.
Nonetheless, the contest was pushed into the penalty shootout realm as O’Neil Levans scored in the 67th minute, turning and smashing down the centre from inside the box after collecting a left side pass
Over at the Skeldon Ground in Berbice, Skeldon Line Path humbled Lower Corentyne Secondary 20-0. Brandt Peneux led the rout with nine goals in the 17th, 45th, 46th, 52nd, 54th, 56th, 62nd, 74th and 80th minute.
He was assisted by Alex Partab who netted a hat-trick in the seventh, 39th and 48th minute and Shariff Henry who scored thrice in the 49th, 50th and 78th minute.
Chipping in with braces were Lleyton Miguel in the 32nd and 40th minute and Romeo Peneux in the fourth and 79th minute. Netting a solo effort was Audie Coppin in the 24th minute.
Similarly, Ann’s Grove crushed Beterverwagting (BV) Secondary 4-0 at the Victoria Community ground. Meanwhile at the Hauraruni ground, Camille’s Institute defeated Dora Secondary 3-2.
Action in the event is slated to continue today from 15:30hrs at several venues. The championship which will be played in the traditional knockout format, will be staged in every region and will conclude on July 31st at the National Stadium in Providence.
Christianburg/Wismar Secondary has held a stranglehold on the event as they are the four-time defending champions. The other victor was the Government Technical Institute who won the inaugural event.
Winner of the event is slated to receive $1,000,000 toward the funding off a school project and the Championship trophy while the second place unit will receive $700,000 and the runners-up accolade.
The third and fourth placed-units will walk away with $400,000 and $350,000 and the corresponding trophy. Similarly, $100,000 will be awarded to each zone winner.
