St. Ignatius Secondary sealed their berth to the Region #9 final of the Digicel Schools Football Championships after brushing aside Aishalton Secondary 6-1 yesterday at the St. Ignatius Sports Club ground.
The large home crowd that viewed the contest was not disappointed as Kenbert Salvador scored a double in the 20th and 36th minute while David Coates bagged a brace in the 67th and 83rd minute.
Chipping in with solo efforts in the 32nd and 81st minute were Orlando Francis and Chadrick Torres respectively. For the visitors, Ben Realine netted in the 53rd minute. Although the contest threatened to be a closely fought affair in the opening exchanges, the hosts grabbed the lead as Salvador latched onto a poor pass from a defender before dribbling the onrushing goalkeeper inside the box and finishing into the empty net.
The second goal followed 12 minutes onward in what can be described as one of the goals of the event. Receiving a partial clearance by the defender 28 yards in the centre of the field, Francis unleashed a left foot volley into the top right corner, giving the goalkeeper no chance.
The contest was basically sealed five minutes later as Salvador netted his second, fashioning a cheeky ‘rabona’ strike with his trailing leg after collecting a flat left side cross.
Aishalton improved in the second period and was able to pull one back when Realine scored, tapping home into the empty net after the onrushing goalkeeper missed an attempted clearance.
It was only a brief respite for the visitors as substitute Coates netted, stabbing home into the centre of the net after his initial strike was fumbled by the goalkeeper.
Torres then got his name on the scorer’s sheet nine minutes before the end, rifling a powerful strike from 24 yards out in the centre of the field into the lower left corner following an indirect free kick.
The score line was sealed two minutes later as Coates grabbed his second, finishing into the right side past the advancing goalkeeper after skipping past the a few challenges during a solo run on the left side.
Prior to the fixture, Lethem Mayor Carlton Beckles met the team before the start of the contest. The event will resume today the same venue with holders Annai Secondary opposing Sand Creek from 15:30hrs.
The championship which will be played in the traditional knockout format, will be staged in every region and will end on July 31st at the National Stadium in Providence.
Christianburg/Wismar Secondary has held a stranglehold on the event as they are current four time defending champions. The other victor of the most prestigious event in the country was Georgetown Technical Institute who won the inaugural event.
