Berbice School of Excellence excel despite being short-handed

Berbice School of Excellence and Rosignol Secondary secured wins in the Region #5 zone when 7th Annual Digicel Schools Football Championships continued yesterday.

Staged at the Paradise ground, West Coast Berbice, Berbice School of Excellence, despite only having seven players at their disposal, edged Fort Wellington 2-1.

Tarone Pompey gave the outnumbered unit the lead in the 13th minute, slotting home from inside centre of the box, into the right hand corner of the net.

It then became 2-0 in the 32nd minute, as Anthony Alexander netted under fortuitous circumstances.

Tasked with the responsibility of taking a corner-kick, Alexander crossed the ball into the area, only for the goalkeeper to misjudge the ball and push it into the back of the net.

Fort Wellington eventually pulled one back in the 55th minute compliments of Ziekel Johnson. Lurking in the centre of the six yard box, Johnson directed his powerful header past the advancing goalkeeper into the roof of the net.

Johnson was then presented with the perfect opportunity to level proceedings, as Fort Wellington was awarded a penalty kick for a handball infraction five minutes later.

However, the diminutive forward spurned the chance from the distance, firing his right foot effort wide of the lower left corner.

Berbice School of Excellence held on in the final minutes to seal the victory while Rosignol Secondary dismissed No. #8 Secondary 4-1. Nial Reynolds recorded a double in the 32nd and 61st minute.

He was assisted by Delrico Griffith and Lindon Singh who scored in the 19th and 58th minute respectively. For the loser, Joshua Charles netted in the 36th minute.

Meanwhile, at the Burnham Park ground, East Coast Berbice in the Region #6 zone, Canje Secondary made light work of New Amsterdam Secondary 5-1.

Tyrese Williams bagged a double in the 29th and 63rd minute, while Alade Grant, Elond White and Akeem Moses-Bovell scored in the 40th, 66th and 69th minute respectively.

For the loser, an own goal was conceded in the 40th minute. Meanwhile, Berbice Educational Institute upset Berbice High 1-0. Kelly Amsterdam separated the two teams with a 63rd minute conversion.

The championship which is scheduled to conclude on July 31st, will feature more than 120 schools from each of the 10 administrative regions, competing in an elimination format.

Chase Academy is the defending champion, with Christianburg/ Wismar the most successful school with four consecutive titles (2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015) in six successive final appearances.

The other winner of the tourney was Government Technical Institute (GTI) in the inaugural edition (2011). Winner of the event will receive $1,000,000 towards a school project and a trophy.

The second, third and fourth place finishers will collect $700,000, $400,000 and $350,000 towards a school initiative and the respective accolade.