Digicel National Schools Football Competition… Jamladeen, Victor spearhead 8th of May Secondary to Zone Final

Jul 03, 2015 Sports

Goalkeeper Devon Forde had a good day
between the uprights for 8th of May Secondary

By Sean Devers in E’bo

In one of the better games in the Region Two Zone, a brace each from Amir Jamladeen and Widely Victor spearheaded Eighth of May Secondary to a 4-1 win against Cotton Field Secondary in an action packed Zone Semi-Final of the Digicel National Schools Football Competition on Wednesday at the New Opportunity Corps (NOC) ground on the Essequibo Coast.
After both teams scored a goal each in the first half, three crucial second half goals took 8th of May to their first ever Zone Final which will be played at the NOC ground on June 6, CARICOM Day.
Under overcast skies after heavy rain had left the playing surface waterlogged in several areas, both teams had to contend with tough conditions which made passing along the ground and ball control a nightmare for the players, the ball stopping ‘dead’ when it went into a puddle.

Amir Jamladeen (left) Widley Victor

The opening goal was scored in the 31st minute by the flamboyant Victor, which put 8th of May ahead as Custodian Nazeer Ali Shaw was well and truly beaten. Two minutes later Shivajie Latchman produced the equalizer but that was to be the last goal of the half as both teams displayed a willingness to defend. When the second half commenced the skies became dark and the wind blew strong and chilly as rain poured down from the heavens but that did not prevent the 8th of May forwards from turning on the heat on Shaw in goal.
While 8th of May attacked Cotton Field tried to protect their goal on the slushy ground and at times the contest got physical.
Keon Forde’s powerful right footer was well stopped by Shaw but in the 47th minute Jamladeen, who continued to torment Cotton Field with skillful maneuvers, dribbled past two defenders and blasted the ball past a bemused Shaw to make it 2-1. In the 54th minute Victor pounced on a loose ball which rebounded off the side post and after a couple of attempts finally got it past the goal line despite Shaw’s scrambling effort to stop it, 8th of May strengthened the advantage, 3-1.
Watched by a small gathering, Cotton Field upped the tempo and desperately tried to get back in the game with time running out. Cotton Field’s charging forwards, drenched in muddy water, put lots of pressure on 8th of May goalkeeper but Devon Forde was equal to the task; courageously coming out of his goal to intercept the ball and cut the angles on the slippery surface.
With four minutes to go, Jamladeen sealed the issue with his second goal to finish the game 4-1 for 8th of May, to start the celebrations.