A Lester Cummings first-half double powered Region Five champions Ash Educational Institute to a 2-0 victory over Region Nine winners St. Ignatius Secondary in their national playoff encounter yesterday as action in the Digicel U18 Secondary Schools Football Tournament continued.
Witnessed by a small gathering at the Number Five ground, Berbice
under wet conditions, Cummings would break the early deadlock compliments of a second-minute right-footed strike inside the six-yard area from an Akeemo Watts’ right-sided cross following a cheekily played Ronwell McPherson back pass.
The lanky forward would complete his brace in the 23rd minute through a powerful right-footed strike from just outside the 18-yard area on the right side of the field that settled into the top left-hand corner of the goal.
With the win, Ash Educational Institute will now oppose national champions and Region 10 victors Wismar/Christianburg Secondary in their quarterfinal match-up on Sunday, July 21st at the Wisburg Secondary School ground, Linden.
Over at the Mabaruma Community Centre ground in Barima/Waini, Region One champions Santa Rosa Secondary led by a Brandon Phillips double in the 44th and 45th minutes defeated Region Eight winners Mahdia Secondary 4-1 in their national playoff fixture.
Keith DaSilva and Shane LaRose were on target for the Moruca side in the 57th and 63rd minutes respectively. Etching his name on the scorer’s sheet in a losing cause was Albert Daniel in the 41st minute.
Santa Rosa Secondary will now lock horns with 2012 runners-up and Region 7 champions, Waramadong Secondary in the quarterfinal round on Sunday, July 21st at the Ministry of Education ground, Carifesta Avenue in Georgetown.
Region Four winners Covent Garden Secondary will face off with Region Three champions Leonora Secondary in their quarterfinal fixture on Sunday July 21st at the Grove Community Centre ground on the East Bank of Demerara.
Completing the quarterfinal round will be Region Six representatives New Amsterdam Technical Institute (NATI) opposing Georgetown Zone winners St. George’s Secondary at the Burnham Park ground in New Amsterdam, Berbice.
