The third annual Petra Organisation/ Smalta Girls Pee-Wee Schools Football Championships began on Saturday at the Ministry of Education with 14 of the 16 teams getting in to action.
After a delayed start, the teams took part in the ceremonious march past all decked out in their uniforms and seemingly ready for action.
The calm before the storm. The teams line up cordially after the ceremonial march past to begin the third edition of the tournament
After the opening whistle, St. Agnes Primary and St. Pius Primary opened the proceedings with a group B encounter which began at a fast pace with the former netting two goals in the opening 10 minutes. Amanda McPherson was first on the score sheet with a conversion in the fifth minute while Shequeena Smith found the back of the net four minutes later before St. Pius’ defence settled down. After full time the score remained 2-0 in favour of the lasses in red who will go into next week’s action very high in confidence while St. Pius will have to regroup and come again.
In other matches, defending champions St. Stephen’s Primary needled Redeemer Primary in a Group D match. Odelli Straughn was the lone scorer when she converted in the seventh minute for St. Stephen’s Primary.
St. Gabriel’s Primary won via walkover after South Ruimveldt Primary failed to show up for their encounter. A similar result gave St. Margret’s Primary the vital opening win after Tucville Primary were no shows fir the Group D fixture.
Former champions, Stella Maris were beaten 1-3 by a busy looking Enterprise Primary. For Enterprise Kemeora Warren (14th), Tanya Mohabir (16th) and Emmaria Mercier (20th) scored a goal each while the 2014 champs lone goal was an own goal in the 18th minute.
F. E. Pollard Primary and St. Angela’s Primary played to the only draw game of the day. After the final whistle, the score line read 1-1 with Carletta Ross scoring in the 13th minute for St. Angela’s before Cedranessa Benn equalized in the 23rd to keep it that way until the end of regulation time.
In the most one-sided game of the day, North Georgetown Primary beat Smith’s Memorial Primary 4-0 with Alicia James scoring the first hat trick of this year’s tournament. James breached the porous Smith’s Memorial defence in the 5th, 17th and 20th minutes while an own goal in the 15th sealed the deal.
West Ruimveldt Primary then won by a two goals to one margin over Winfer Gardens Primary after a double from Gabriella McGarrell in the 3rd and 10th minutes. Winfer Garden’s then benefited from an own goal in the 13th minute.
The tournament continues next Saturday with more group matches also at the Ministry of Education Ground, Carifesta Avenue. At the end of the group stage of matches, the top two finishers from each group will progress to the quarterfinals.
The remaining eight teams will faceoff for positions 9th to 16th until the tourney ends on December 17.
Trophies will be awarded to all 16 teams, while medals will be awarded to the top two finishers. On the individual side, accolades will be awarded to the Most Valuable Player, the Highest Goal Scorer and the Best Goalkeeper.
