Queenstown defeats Central High to reach knockout round

Queenstown sealed their berth to knockout round, downing Central High in a must win fixture for both sides when the third annual Milo/Petra Organization Secondary Schools u-20 football tourney continued yesterday.

Kelsey Benjamin led the rout at the Ministry of Education ground with a helmet trick to seal his side’s place in the final 16. Benjamin opened the scoring in the 28th minute, racing down the right wing, before cutting into the penalty box and finishing into the left corner.

He would then make it 2-0 as he sealed his double five minutes onward, slotting past the custodian after once again racing into the penalty area following a run away on the wing.

Benjamin would then seal his hat-trick in the 42nd minute, lashing his powerful strike into the left hand corner, following an indirect free kick within the penalty area.

The result would then be completed in the 56th minute as he netted his fourth, slotting home down the centre of the goal after the ball fell into his path, following a right sided corner kick into the area.

Daniel Thomas would eventually pull one back for the losers in the 67th minute, stabbing home into the net from within the six yard area, after initial strike was deflected fortuitously into his path. In the earlier fixture, St. Johns College defeated St. Stanislaus via walkover.

The action will continue today at the same venue with the final four group matches. In the opening game at 11:00hrs, St. Mary’s will oppose Brickdam Secondary while Christ Church will tackle Dolphin Secondary in the second fixture at 12:30hrs.

The third fixture will witness Ascension Secondary tackling former champions St. Georges High from 14:00hrs while the final fixture will pit Chase Academy against South Ruimveldt from 15:30hrs.

Winners of the event will pocket the championship trophy and $500,000 towards the building of any school project while the second, third and fourth placed sides will pocket $300,000, $200,000 and $100,000 respectively towards the funding of a school venture and the corresponding accolade.

On the individual side, awards will be given for the event’s most valuable player, highest goal scorer and best goal keeper while four full scholarships to attend Chase Academy free of cost will also be up for grabs.