A dynasty was created yesterday as defending champion Chase Academy successfully retained their Digicel Schools football championship, dismantling Annai Secondary 6-2 at the National Track and Field Centre, Leonora.
It was the most lopsided final in the tournament’s history as Stephon Reynolds bagged a hat-trick in the 17th, 69th and 85th minute in the second ever meeting of the teams. He was supported by a Nicholas McArthur brace in the ninth and 20th minute while Ryan Hackett scored in the 37th minute.
For the losing team, relatives Orville and Sherrol Daniels scored in the 41st and 56th minute respectively.
With the win, Chase Academy walked away with $1,000,000 towards a school project and a trophy while the runners-up copped $700,000 towards a school project and a trophy. On the individual side of the presentation, Daniels received the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award.
Naidison Daniels copped the Highest Goal Scorer award with 11 conversions while Norville received the Best Goalkeeper Award. The contest was effectively over at the conclusion of the first half as the North Georgetown winner outscored their foes 4-1.
McArthur broke deadlock after racing onto a through pass from Hackett in the left side of the box before slotting under the advancing goalkeeper into the right corner.
Reynolds increased the score with a finish into the lower left corner past the advancing goalkeeper after latching onto a through pass inside the right of the penalty area.
The score ballooned once more as McArthur scored, slotting home into the empty net unchallenged, after an initial strike deflected into his path inside the center of the box.
Hackett then got into the scoring act, skipping past his marker before lashing into the lower right corner from the top of the penalty area.
On the back foot for most of the fixture, Annai eventually pulled one back as Orville Daniels scored with a strike from the outside the center of the field, which went straight through the grasp of the goalkeeper and into the left corner.
Upon the resumption of the second period, Annai reduced the deficit once more as Daniels netted, slotting into the lower right corner, after racing into the left side of the area.
However, that was the closest Annai came to overturning the deficit as Stephon netted his second goal, stabbing home into the right side of the net from center of the box, after latching onto a lobbed left side pass.
The result was sealed five minutes before the end with Reynolds completing his hat-trick compliments of a thunderous strike from the right side of the box, into the left corner.
Meanwhile, DC Caesar Fox defeated arch-rivals Christianburg/Wismar 3-1 in the third place playoff. It was first ever win for the Region 7 champion against the Linden unit in six matches.
Reon McNaughton, Whittaker Paul and Kevin Hastings scored in the 11th, 25th and 43rd minute respectively for the winners. On target in the loss was Darwin Adolphus in the 65th minute.
DC Caesar Fox walked away with $400,000 towards a school initiative and a trophy while Christianburg/Wismar collected $350,000 for a school initiative and the respective accolade.
Meeting the teams prior to the start of the final were Digicel CEO, Gregory Dean. Director of Sports Christopher Jones, Digicel Head of Marketing, Jacqueline James and GFF Technical Director Ian Greenwood.
