Defending champions roll into Digicel football semi-finals

By Treiston Joseph

Defending champions Chase Academy are rolling through their opposition on their way to what seems as a third straight appearance in the final of the Digicel School Football Tournament after a massive win against Hosororo Secondary on Tuesday afternoon at the Ministry of Education ground, Carifesta Avenue.

At the end of regulation time the score-line read 10-nil in favour of the defending champions, who are beginning to look like definite favourites to repeat as champions. It was simply exquisite attacking football from Chase Academy after they sensed the weakness in the defence of their opposition.

Nicholas Arthur opened the scoring in the fifth minute for his lone goal of the match, while Ryan Hackett in the 14^th and 73^rd minutes and Rondel Peters in the 43^rd and 81^st minutes scored doubles.

The first half ended 6-0 with the full attacking display continuing in the second half. Adrian Aaron (15^th), Kevin Padmore (27^th), Stephon Reynolds (28^th), Jermaine Garrett (69^th) and Jeremy Garrett (90^th) also added their names to the scoresheet.

Captain of the team, Jeremy Garrett, was pleased with the win and noted that the squad is taking the each match “step by step” as they aim to lift the title for a second time.

Meanwhile, five-time champions Christianburg Wismar are struggling a bit in the tournament and had a scare on Tuesday evening as Buxton Youth Developers stretched the Lindeners. After a 1-1 draw, Christianburg Wismar won 5-4 on penalties at the Beterverwagting ground.

The dark horse of the tournament, Annai Secondary, are also looking in top form with a 5-0 win over Vryman’s Ervin Secondary at Burnham Park, while DC Caesar Fox Secondary, formerly Waramadong Secondary, topped Sir Leon Lessons 5-2 with a Reon McNaughton’s hat-trick in the 34^th, 53^rd and 55^th minutes leading the way.

The semi-finals will be played on Thursday (July 27) at the National Track and Field Centre, Leonora.