Matthew Harrison’s helmet trick powered North Ruimveldt Multilateral past Freeburg Secondary School yesterday, when action continued in the Digicel Secondary School Championship.
Scores of school children, parents and football enthusiasts watched Harrison and goal keeper Jevon Harris put on a sterling performance that kept them on the edge of excitement throughout the game, until the 4-0 finish.
Sixteen-year-old Harrison, who seemed to be a cut above the rest, made some impressive finishes which resulted in his team’s success. The Georgetown Football Club (GFC) player opened his account in spectacular form in the 16th minute of the match when he kicked a ball over the keeper’s head into the net. The play started with a spot-on cross from Carl Griffith who found Harrison from the left wing after skilfully evading two defenders.
In the 23rd minute, Harrison collected an air ball some 25 yards away from the goal and dribbled three defenders to score the goal of the match. North Ruimveldt, last year’s quarterfinalist in the Georgetown zone, ended the first half with a 2-0 lead much to the disappointment of the Freeburg players who put up a much better performance in the second half but was denied by some excellent saving by Harris.
In total, the petite Harris who plays for Fruta Conquerors at the club level, blocked six attempts on goal, with only an off-side attempt going past him. He was like a brick wall against the Freeburg players who tried on several occasion to beat him.
However, the eventual winners made good on their opportunities as Harrison put in two more goals in the second half to seal the deal. Five minutes after the break Harrison tapped the ball past the goalie to score his third while his final goal came on the back of another excellent play by Carl Griffith who managed to keep the ball through a group of five Freeburg defenders, before making the pass to Harrison who finished well. Although he conceded four goals, Freeburg’s Devon Thom managed to keep out several others with some diving saves.
North Ruimveldt will play the winners of the clash between Sir Leon’s Lesson and South Ruimveldt.
