Orealla and NATI reach regional semi-final

– big clash today at Burnham Park

BY ANDREW CARMICHAEL

Two-time regionalist finalist Orealla Secondary and former regional champions, New Amsterdam Technical Institute (NATI) are through to the semi-finals of zone six of the 6th annual Digicel National Knockout schools football tournament.

NATI qualified with a 17-0 win over indiscipline Vryman’s Ervin Secondary while Orealla got passed the ambitious Tagore Memorial 16-0 in their third round matches.

Playing at the Burnham Park in New Amsterdam on Tuesday, NATI came up against Vryman’s Ervin in a one-sided affair goals from Regan Reece in the 15th and 24th minutes and then one from Keon Williams in the 26th minute, Troy Morrison walked off the field to leave Vryman’s Ervin with ten players.

Three minutes later it became 4-0 when Kelshon Luke scored in the 29th minute. Six minutes later Williams registered another goal and in the 38th minute, Dexter Allen put his name on the scoring card. Aaron Hunte was at the same time sent off for using indecent language to the referee to make matters worse for Vryman’s Ervin.

On the resumption after the interval, Kevon Williams did not take the field for Vryman’s Ervin and they had no replacement on the bench. NATI took advantage of the prevailing situation on the muddy outfield and Williams scored gain in the first minute after the resumption.

The rampage continued and saw Williams scoring goals in the 49th, 50th, 53rd, 69th, 74th and 82nd minutes. Also scoring were; Kelon Cadogan in the 72nd and 79th minutes, Joel Carmichael in the 78th and Jque Simmons in the 82 minute.

NATI squandered several chances from inside the six-yard box as player attempted different methods of scoring.

In a more realistic football encounter at the Skeldon Community Centre on Wednesday, Orealla took advantage of an inexperienced Tagore Memorial and Miggel Devair scored a hat-trick to take his tally to nine goals in the competition so far.

Edwin Russell with goals in the 16th, 24th and 35th minutes along with Shawn Peneux with goals in the 14th 27th and 9th minutes also registered hat tricks.

The other scores were Andrew France with a double, Fernando Edwards, Donald France and Brinsley Rajnarine. A defense error accounted for the other goal.

Orealla will be out for revenge when they meet with NATI at the Burnham Park. The two schools last met in the regional final when the tournament was first held. Back then NATI prevailed 6-0 at the All Saints Ground. NATI went on to place third overall in the national competition.