ExxonMobil Boys’ and Girls’ U14: Boys’ defending champions ousted as tournament intensifies

Upsets and commanding performances were on the cards on Saturday afternoon, when the ExxonMobil Under-14 Boys’ and Girls’ Schools’ football tournament headed into its quarterfinal stage.
When the dust settled at the Ministry of Education (MoE) Ground, eight teams had secured their spots in the boys’ and girls’ semi-finals, all in thrilling fashion.
The first game of the day set the tone for what was to come, with Leonora Secondary pulling off a major upset against boys’ defending champions Bartica Secondary.
The defending champions were actually ahead, following a brace from Garfield Jones in the 10th and 18th minutes; however, Quincy Fraser later pulled one back for Leonora Secondary in the 23rd minute. Then, as the game wound to a close, Huan Culley found the equaliser for Leonora in the 32nd minute pushing the game into extra time.
The contest eventually had to be decided on kicks from the penalty spot, in which Leonora sent the defending champions packing 4-1.

The following boys’ game saw South Ruimveldt Secondary easing past Bush Lot Secondary 2-0. Bush Lot defended well in the earlier part of the game and it was only until the 23rd minute that Aaron Archer broke the ice for South Ruimveldt. Two minutes later, Devonte Game netted South’s second goal.
Then Chase’s Academic Foundation pulled off a 3-0 victory over Christianburg-Wismar Secondary. Chase’s win came compliments of a team effort in which Mark Glasgow, Jashan Haynes and Akeel Young netted one goal each in the 13th, 28th and 33rd minutes to book their ticket to the semi-finals.
The last boys’ quarterfinal saw Dolphin Secondary defeating Westminster Secondary by the same 3-0 margin. Tyler Abrams found the back of the net early for Dolphin in the fourth minute, but it wasn’t until the 48th that they secured their second goal through Christian Sam. Sam went on to complete his brace in the 50th to seal the 3-0 win for Dolphin.
Over in the girls’ competition, it continued to rain goals from the more experienced teams.

Defending champions Waramuri Primary Top began the day’s proceedings with a thumping 7-0 victory over Charity Secondary. Erika Harris led the charge for the Region One side with a helmet- trick in the 11th, 17th, 23rd and 31st minutes while her teammate, Brentia Marks registered a brace in the 4th and 37th minutes. Shenesa Thomas (32nd) added another strike to complete Waramuri’s 7.
In the following girls’ game, Marian Academy were able to put up little resistance against Bartica’s Secondary’s girls, as the latter demolished their opponent 7-1.
Marian Academy’s Ashley Walton opened the scoring in just the second minute of the game, after which Bartica’s Nerismar Williams equalised in the fourth minute. Thereafter, it was the Bartica show as Williams went on to complete her hat-trick in the 17th and 31st minutes, while her teammate Kelys Williams also registered a triple in the 11th, 30th and 37th minutes. Vilerky Simon was also amongst the scorers with one goal in the 16th.
The usually high-scoring Santa Rosa Secondary were hindered in their contest with Tucville Secondary, but the Region One side still managed to prevail 3-0. Maria Atkinson netted a brace in the 7th and 20th minutes, while Veronica Chatta added another in the 12th for the victory.
The final girls’ game of the day was another goal fest from President’s College, who defeated New Amsterdam Secondary 8-0. Kimore Edwards got things going with the opening goal in the eight minute and went on to find the back of the net again in the 20th. While Reyanna Gounga scored in the 14th minute, Nadinie Xavier netted a hat-trick in the 26th, 30th and 37th minutes. The complete team effort also saw Teshana Abrams and Jessica Henry adding one goal each to the massive tally in the 28th and 36th minutes.
The ExxonMobil U14 tournament is also supported by Stenna Drilling, Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) under its Pepsi brand and MVP Sports. The Under-14 boys’ and girls’ action is expected to continue next weekend at the same venue with the semifinal round.