Digicel Schools’ Football Championships: Lopsided affairs as Round of 32 kicks off

There were goals galore to be witnessed on Saturday at the Ministry of Education (MoE) and National Insurance Scheme (NIS) Grounds as the Digicel Schools’ Football Tournament National Round of 32 stage got off to an entertaining start.
Georgetown champions Dolphin Secondary started proceedings on an exciting note with a dominating victory over Brickdam Secondary.
Gerry Burnette (22nd, 36th, 60th, 63rd) and Jamal Williams (51st, 25th, 81st, 89th) led the charge with four goals apiece. Caldwell Peters added to the tally with a treble in the 40th, 44th and 78th minutes. Jequan Cole (31st, 58th); Jude Charles (35th, 68th) registered doubles while Daniel Denheart added the cherry on top in the 84th minute for the 16-1 victory.
Jovaun Thom netted Brickdam’s consolation goal in the 87th minute.
Over at the MoE Ground, Tucville Secondary eased past Belladrum Secondary 4-0.
A hat-trick from Dwayne Kellman in the 18th, 33rd and 58th minutes and a single strike from Neil Evans in the 11th accounted for Tucville’s tally.
Back at the NIS Ground, Friendship Secondary were receiving a drubbing at the hands of West Ruimveldt Secondary. Both Ozim Lewis (6th, 11th, 25th) and Donovan Welcome (8th, 44th, 45th) found the back of the net thrice. Registering doubles were Elijah Marcus (30th, 61st) and Malachi Wray (45th, 66th), while Trevor Bent (5th), Wayne Solomon (55th), Nicholas James (67th) and Matthew Calvan (82nd) netted one goal each to bring West Ruimveldt’s tally up to 14.
Braces from Zundel Abrams (1st, 22nd) and Denzell Abrams (13th, 67th) accompanied by a shot on target off the boots of Danesh Williams lifted Waramuri to a 5-0 victory over Vryman’s Erven Secondary.
Later, it was back to the lopsided wins as Region Nine champions St Ignatius Secondary whipped President’s College 11-0.

Romel Ernest was the marksman to watch for St Ignatius, netting six goals in the 5th, 35th, 40th, 46th, 73rd and 79th minutes. Akon Albert was equally as impressive with a treble in the 40th, 53rd and 69th. Morgan Taruma (33rd) and Rayes Williams (59th) netted one apiece to add to St Ignatius’ tally.
The final game of the day was a fitting close to the exciting football action, as Kato Secondary and Carmel Secondary took the game down to sudden-death kicks.
Damion Eduan stunned his opponents with an early goal for Kato in the fourth minute. Carmel’s reply came in the 20th, off the boots of Ian Daniels. In the 37th minute, fireworks flew as both sides scored, Kenroy Moses for Kato and Marcus Lane for Carmel, to bring the score to 2-2.
The score remained locked until it came down to penalty kicks where Carmel Secondary prevailed.
The Digicel tournament continued yesterday at various venues and the Round of 32 is expected to conclude today with action in Berbice and the West Coast of Demerara. At the Scotts Ground, Berbice, Tutorial Academy will take on Mahaicony Technical at 14:00h, while Berbice Educational Institute battle Queen’s College from 16:00h at the same venue.
In Region Three, Charlestown Secondary go head-to-head with Leonora Secondary from 16:00h and Westminster Secondary battle North Ruimveldt Multilateral from 18:00h, both at Leonora.
The Round of 16 is set to be played on Wednesday, August 2 and Thursday, August 3 at the MoE Ground, Georgetown.