Digicel Nationwide Schools Football Competition…Christianburg / Wismar do it again

Aug 03, 2015 Sports

– Annai beat Waramadong

The question of who could stop defending champion Christianburg / Wismar was answered emphatically yesterday in the final of the Digicel Nationwide Schools Football Competition which ended, at the National Stadium at Providence.
The champs weathered an early onslaught by Chase’s Academic Foundation, before cruising to a comfortable 2-1 win in front of what is estimated to be the largest crowd to witness the final in the tournament’s history.

Minister within the Ministry of Education Nicolette Henry (3rd right standing) and Digicel CEO Kevin Kelly (next to her) pose with the winning trophy and the victorious Christainburg / Wismar School during the presentation ceremony yesterday.

For the past four years, Waramadong was the recipient of Christianburg/ Wismar’s rampage, but it was Chas e’s Academic Foundation’s turn to suffer from their dominance as Christianburg / Wismar returned to the Mining Town with another lien on the trophy.
Goals from Amar Jones and Omar Brewley in the fourth and 58th minutes respectively were enough to seal the victory, while Kelsey Benjamin’s 76th minute penalty was the lone response for the losers.
With the win, Christianburg/Wismar retained the championship accolade and walked with $1,000,000 towards the funding of a school project.
The challengers for their effort received the corresponding accolade and $600,000 towards the funding of a school initiative.
Among the dignitaries present at the occasion were Director of Sports Christopher Jones, Minister within the Ministry of Education Nicolette Henry, Digicel CEO Kevin Kelly, Marketing Manager of Digicel Jacqueline James and Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Normalization Committee Member Eric Phillips.
The defending champs took the early lead in their very first attack through a towering header from Amar Jones from a corner kick when he climbed above everyone to direct his attempt into the right hand corner, giving the opposing custodian Amanackie Forde no chance.
The early setback clearly upset Chase’s rhythm as they failed to threaten Christianburg / Wismars goal despite dominating possession.
Benjamin had a good opportunity to level the proceedings, but upon weaving past his marker on the left side of the field his effort sailed just wide of the upright.
A curling freekick from 24 yards out by Brewley crashed into the crossbar and rebounded into play much to the disbelief of his team-mates.
Benjamin later latched on to a pool clearance and with only the goalkeeper to beat, his volley attempt sailed over the crossbar.
The half came with Christianburg / Wismar clinging to a slim 1-0 lead.

Champions Christianburg/ Wismar players rise to head home their opening goal off a corner against Chase Academy yesterday.

The intensity resumed in the second period as both teams tried to strengthen their contrasting positions.
It was the Lindeners that made the early inroad in the period, increasing their lead 13 minutes into the half as Brewley placed a left footed shot into the right hand corner from just outside the box as the Linden support erupted.
Staring down a 2-0 deficit and guilty of over playing the ball in the final third, the Georgetown unit eventually grabbed a lifeline as Benjamin was brought down within the left side of the box, forcing the referee to award a penalty kick.
Benjamin strode up to the spot and buried his shot to the left of the goalkeeper who had moved to his right.
The holders survived a tense fourteen minutes through solid defending, before the final whistle sounded.
In the third place playoff, Annai Secondary defeated Waramadong Secondary 4-3 on penalty kicks after normal time finished 3-3.
Prior to the penalty shoot-out, Annai took the early lead in the second minute as Sherral Daniels scored with a tame shot from the right side that went comically through the hands of the keeper and into the back of the net.
Annai then doubled their lead in the 28th minute as Sherral Daniels netted his second of the match, placing his effort from the right side of the box, under the body of the diving keeper, after racing onto a loose ball that originated from the right side of the field.
Waramadong eventually got back into the fixture in the 45th+1 minute under dubious circumstances as they were awarded a penalty kick following a slightest of contact within the right side of the box.
Stepping up to take the spot-kick was Deon Rodrigues who buried his effort into the lower right hand corner to cut the deficit going into the half time interval.
The three time losing finalist eventually leveled the score in the 46th minute of the second half compliments of Azual Medina, who fired his effort into the lower left hand corner following a quick passing combination.
Waramadong eventually took the lead in the 64th minute as Medina grabbed his brace, finishing down the centre of the net following one-on-one situation, after racing onto a lobbed past over the defensive line.
Nevertheless, Annai restored parity to proceedings in the 82nd minute, pushing the game into its eventual end as Triston Daniels scored.
Receiving the ball 22 yards from goal in the centre of the field, Daniels unleashed a powerful effort that the keeper would only push into the lower right hand corner of the net.
At the presentation ceremony that followed the conclusion of the event, Captain and custodian of Christianburg/Wismar Tevin Crawford received the golden glove award, while Sherral Daniel of Annai walked away with the golden boot award for most goals.