Massy Distribution U18 Football: Charlestown, Chase, Santa Rosa, West secure semifinal berths

Spectators were either or the edge of their seats or moved to their feet in excitement on Sunday, as the quarterfinal round of the Massy Distribution Schools’ Under-18 Football tournament took centre stage at the Queen’s College Ground in Georgetown.
Charlestown Secondary were the first team to punch their ticket to the next round, enduring a tense penalty shootout against New Amsterdam Secondary.
The tension blossomed since the first half, as neither side was able to find the back of the net. However, in the second half, Adion Marks broke the ice for Charlestown in the 60th minute. That was met with an immediate response off the boots of New Amsterdam’s Domonique Rodrigues in the 62nd minute.

Omari Cassius made it 2-1 in Charlestown’s favour by the 70th minute, but again, New Amsterdam levelled the scores, this time through Clevon Cort in the 72nd to ensure a 2-2 score at the end of regulation time.
The contest eventually boiled down to penalties, through which Charlestown prevailed 3-1 for the win.
Then, Chase’s Academic Foundation continued their stellar run in the competition with a massive 9-2 drubbing of Region Seven’s Three Miles Secondary. Chase was met with some resistance early on as Lebron Mendonca netted a brace in the 7th and 31st minutes, responding to three early goals from Chase – one apiece from Mark Glasgow (3rd); Shaquan David (15th) and Nyron Barrow (21st).
The 2025 runners-up then launched an all-out onslaught. Glasgow completed his hat-trick in the 42nd and 44th minutes while David did the same in the 45th and 57th. Barrow added another strike for a brace in the 55th. In addition, solitary strikes came off the boots of Germaine Garrett (37th), Micah Boodie (60th) and Jaden Christian (62nd) to complete the nine-goal haul.
Santa Rosa were the next team to secure their semifinal spot, cruising past Annandale Secondary 3-1. Santa Rosa struck first through Shane James in the ninth minute, but Annandale’s Ronoko Morris found the back of the net in the 27th to level the scores.

James wasted little time in netting a second goal to hand the lead back to the Region One outfit while Darren Williams scored in the 60th to seal the win.
West Ruimveldt later brought the curtains down on the quarterfinal round with a 5-1 mauling of St Joseph High.
Donovan Welcome was the marksman to watch, netting in the 7th and 35th minutes. Lyndon Gray (16th), Dellon Philadelphia (25th) and Dominic Lesperance (68th) each found the back of the net once to extend West Ruimveldt’s tally. Meanwhile, Laurel George was responsible for St Joseph’s consolation goal in the 45th minute.
The Massy Distribution football semi-finals is set to be staged at the Ministry of Education (MoE) Ground, Carifesta Avenue next weekend. The teams are competing for a $300,000 grand prize that will be allocated in kind, for a school project of their choice.