Xenon Secondary edged Friendship Secondary 4-3 when the 6th annual Digicel Secondary Schools Football Championships continued yesterday at the Leonora Sports Facility.
Randy Smart was presented with a golden opportunity to give Xenon the lead in fifth minute from the penalty mark, only for the forward to be denied by the custodian.
The miss did not prove to be very costly as Antone Stanton opened the scoring five minutes onward, finishing into the centre of the net after collecting a cross from the left side unchallenged inside the centre of the box.
It was smooth sailing for Xenon as Stanton doubled their lead in the 34th minute with a header into the centre of the net unchallenged from inside the six yard box.
Following the resumption of the second period, Lawrence McKenzie pulled one back for Friendship in the 51st minute compliments of a right side strike, which was parried into the left corner by the custodian.
However, Sean Williams restored Xenon’s lead in the 57th minute, racing away into the centre of the box before finishing past the goalkeeper during a one on one situation.
The score line ballooned to 4-1 in the 60th minute as Jaheem Small scored, directing his header through the hands of the goalkeeper into the centre, following a left side corner-kick.
Sloppy defending allowed Friendship back into the contest as Trevon Davidson reduced the deficit in the 68th minute, stabbing his effort from the left side of the box into the left corner, after pouncing on a loose ball.
Davidson further reduced Xenon’s advantage in the 85th minute compliments of a penalty conversion into the centre of the net. Nonetheless, Xenon held on in the final minutes to clinch the result.
In Linden at the Wisburg ground, holders Wismar/Christianburg crushed Linden Foundation Secondary 7-0.
In Georgetown at the Tucville ground, St Mary’s Secondary defeated St. Stanislaus 4-2 while at the Camp Ayanganna ground, St. Rose’s High dismissed Marian Academy 5-0.
At the New Opportunity Corp (NOC) ground, Cotton Field Secondary dismissed NOC 7-2 while Anna Regina defeated Abram Zuil 3-0 at the Anna Regina Multilateral ground.
Over at the Mahaicony ground, Novar Secondary defeated Belladrum Secondary 4-3 on penalty kicks after normal time ended 1-1.
Action in the event is set 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 current four time defending champions. The other victor of the most prestigious event in the country was Georgetown Technical Institute who won the inaugural event.
The winning team is set to receive $1,000,000 for funding 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.
