Latest update May 22nd, 2026 12:38 AM
St. Ignatius to represent Region 9
A clinical display by hosts St. Ignatius afforded them the opportunity to represent Region 9 in the Digicel-sponsored Nationwide Schools Football Tournament after they inflicted a crushing 7-1 win over a game, but clearly outplayed Aishalton in the final that was played on Saturday at the St. Ignatius Sports Club in Lethem.
On target for the winners were Joel Nievenkirk, Franklyn Parks and Mark Joseph, who each netted a brace, while Rodger King added the other.
Romario Alfred made the lone response for Aishalton.
They had defeated Annai 8-0 in the semi-final the previous day.
In the final, played before a large audience that included Regional and Tournament Co-ordinators Megan Thomas and Lavern Fraser-Thomas, Guyana Teachers Union President Colin Bynoe, former President Lance Baptiste and influential members of the business community, the hosts though they started a little tentatively had the first real chance to score when King collected a perfectly weighed pass from the right side, but his feeble shot provided no worry for goalkeeper Josh Saviour.
A stinging right-footer from Parks sailed agonisingly outside the left upright as St. Ignatius urged on by the partisan support grew in confidence.
They eventually took the lead through poor communication between the Aishalton backline that allowed an unmarked King to squeeze a shot past the outstretched hands of Saviour in the 13th minute.
Two minutes later Nievenkirk got onto the end of a floated shot inside the Aishalton goal area and hit a shot past the hapless Saviour. It was again a case of poor marking once again by the defenders.
No team managed to add any more goals to the scoresheet before the half time whistle was sounded.
On the resumption, Aishalton threatened early, but solid goalkeeping by St. Ignatius’ Rohan Nicholas thwarted their advances.
However, Nievenkirk stretched his team’s advantage even further with a beautiful effort in the 40th minute and after that it was one-way traffic as goals rained down.
Captain Parks then got into the act netting his first, before Joseph netted his first of two in the 53rd minute.
He proceeded to complete his double six minutes later with another wonderful effort, dribbling past two defenders, before lashing the ball into the far corner giving the advancing Saviour no chance of stopping.
Parks, too, completed his pair, before Alfred netted for Aishalton to save complete embarrassment.
St. Ignatius were set to play Linden’s Christianburg / Wismar for the right to play in the last eight of the competition yesterday.
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