By Treiston Joseph
St Angela’s Primary came out victorious in the third edition of the Smalta Under-11 Girls Pee Wee football tournament when the curtains came down on the tournament on Saturday afternoon at the Ministry of Education ground, Carifesta Avenue.
St Angela’s topped West Ruimveldt Primary 2-1 for the win, which created a bit of history as St Angela’s Primary became the first school to win both the male and female Petra organised Pee Wee tournaments in the same calendar year.
The game had a frenetic pace to it and St Angela’s wasted little time in stamping their authority on the game with an early goal in the sixth minute from Nikasie St Jules who was later named as joint Most Valuable Player (MVP) alongside her teammate Carletta Ross.
With the first half ending with the lone goal from St Jules, not even the damped pitch stopped the girls from playing attacking football.
Nevertheless, in the second half both teams kept attacking and Ross showed why she was named as an eventual MVP with a strike that went through the hands of West Ruimveldt’s custodian and into the back of the net in the 27th minute of the match.
With time running out, Gabriella McGarrell, who won the golden boot award with 10 goals, struck in the 29th minute besting St Angela’s Theria Bishop who was later named as the best goalkeeper of the tournament.
McGarrell’s goal put a pep in the step of the Wes Ruimveldt girls as it was obvious by their play that they felt hopeful of getting back in the match, but her efforts were a little too late as St Angela’s held on for the win.
Coach of the tournament Wayne St Jules expressed his excitement about St Angela’s win, noting that the girls worked hard and were motivated to do as good as the boys. In the third place game, South Ruimveldt needled St Pius 1-0 to claim the third spot.
While both teams were hard to separate on the pitch with their high energy play, Raven Jacobs’ 18th minute goal was enough to help South Ruimveldt to the win.
Meanwhile, in the 5-8 section that determined the teams finishing fifth through to eight; North Georgetown topped St Stephen’s 2-0, while Enterprise won via walkover against St Agnes.
In the 9-12 section, Smith Memorial won 3-1 on penalty kicks after drawing 2-2 with F.E Pollard Primary and Winfer Gardens won by walkover from Tucville.
In the 13-16 section, Redeemer and St Gabriel’s ended in a no-contest, while St Margaret’s and Stella Maris also ended in a no-contest.
