Three-time losing finalist and Region 7 champions DC Caesar Fox Secondary sealed their berth to tomorrow’s semi-final round after crushing South Georgetown winner Sir Leon Lessons 5-2 when the Digicel Schools Football Championship continued yesterday.
A second half offensive blitz, led by a Reon McNaughton hat-trick in the 34th, 53rd and 55th minute sealed the quarterfinal win at the National Track and Field Centre, Leonora. Adding goals in the 63rd and 87th minute were Javin Castro and Ravi Ruddy respectively.
It was an indisciplined display from the Georgetown unit which seemed devoid of any game plan. Tyrese Forde eventually bagged a brace in the 47th and 79th minute. Due to the victory, DC Caesar Fox will oppose Region 9 titlist Annai Secondary in the semi-final round at 18:00hrs.
The first period was an evenly contested affair with both sides crafting opportunities to seize the advantage. However, it was the Region 7 unit that broke the deadlock through McNaughton, giving their large fan base a reason to celebrate.
The burly forward, after latching onto a right side cross inside the six-yard box, directed his header across the body of the goalkeeper and into the right corner.
A controversial call by the official led to the Sir Leon Lessons side receiving a penalty kick opportunity, after Forde was adjudged to have been brought down by the goalkeeper inside the left of the box.
Stepping up to the mark, Forde made no mistake as he blasted his effort into the top left corner. Nonetheless, the poor call by the referee only seemed to galvanise the Region 7 titlist with McNaughton netting his second minutes after.
It was another penalty call though an uncontroversial one that led to DC Caesar Fox taking the lead with McNaughton slotting into the top left corner emphatically.
The hat-trick was completed moments later to make it 3-1, compliments of a powerful left-foot shot from the top of the box, into the lower right corner.
Castro then got into the scoring act, rifling a strike from inside the centre of the box, into the lower left corner to further increase DC Caesar Fox’s lead.
Rattled by the three-goal blitz, Sir Leon Lessons eventually reduced the deficit as Forde directed his header over the goalkeeper into the right corner after latching onto a long throw from the left side that bounced into his path.
The result was sealed three minutes before the conclusion, with Ruddy stabbing into the net from the inside the left of the six yard box, after Sir Leon failed to clear a right side cross.
Over at the Ministry of Education ground, defending champion Chase Academy dismantled Region 1 winner Hosororo 10-0. Ryan Hackett bagged a double in the 14th and 73rd minute while Rondell Peters netted a brace in the 43rd and 81st minute.
Adding to the score were Nicholas McArthur, Adrian Aaron, Kevin Padmore, Stephon Reynolds, Jermaine Garrett and older sibling Jeremy Garrett in the fifth, 15th, 27th, 28th, 69th and 90th minute respectively.
With the win, Chase Academy will oppose four-time titlist and Region 10 champs Christianburg/Wismar at 16:00hrs after the latter edged Region 4 champs Buxton Youth Developers 5-4 on penalty kicks, following a 1-1 score at the end of normal time.
At the Burnham Park ground, New Amsterdam, Region 9 champs Annai Secondary downed Region 6 titlist Vryman’s Erven 5-0. The championship is scheduled to conclude saturday.
The winning team will receive $1,000,000 towards a school project and a trophy. The second, third and fourth place finishers will collect $700,000, $400,000 and $350,000 towards a school initiative and the respective accolade.
