Digicel Nationwide Schools Football Competition...

Digicel Nationwide Schools Football Competition…

Jul 03, 2012 Sports

Leonora crowned champions of Region 3

Played in soggy conditions, the smaller sized Leonora Secondary conjured up enough strength and skills to defeat Uitvlugt 4-1 and earn the right to represent Region 3 when their regional final of this year’s Digicel Nationwide Schools Football Competition was played yesterday, at the Wales Community Centre ground.

Digicel’s Events and Sponsorship Manager Gavin Hope (right) poses with Region 3 champions Leonora Secondary School shortly after they captured the regional title yesterday.

Before a fair-sized crowd that was dominated by supporters from Leonora Secondary that included Headmistress Mynette Glasgow-Daniels and fellow teachers, the Lenora lads treated the fans to a fine exhibition of skill and football intelligence and took the lead in the 22nd minute when Andrew Fowler sliced through two defenders, before reaching on to a cross from the right side to head past the goalkeeper.
Bouyed by their ascendancy, Leonora attacked with frequency, but the soggy conditions along with some timely interceptions from the Uitvlugt backline kept the game close and it remained that way until the whistle sounded signaling half time.
Four minutes after the resumption, a neat piece of dribbling by Gavin Graham resulted in Kevin Garraway connecting from close range after a precise pass from the former.
With the conditions taking a toll surprisingly on the bigger Uitvlugt players, Leonora continued their onslaught and gained a third goal when Fowler’s powerful shot brought just a partial save from the opposition’s goalkeeper, but unfortunately it rebounded into the path of a lurking Graham and he made no mistake, tapping the ball into an empty net in the 60th minute of play.
That was almost the nail in the coffin, especially since Uitvlugt had muffed a penalty awarded to them when a defender from Leonora was penalized for holding in the box.
As if the afternoon was not long enough for the Uitvlugt players Aubrey Greene took full advantage of being left unmarked in the penalty area to deliver a rasping header off a corner to make it 4-0 on the stroke of the 75th minute of play.
Uitvlugt, however, got a consolation strike from Rawle Garnette in the 80th minute after he dribbled his marker on the right flank, before hammering a cracking shot past the outstretched hands of the Leonora goalkeeper into the far corner.
It was, however, a little bit too late as tem minutes later the final whistle sounded, giving Leonora the right to represent the Region in ten days time against the champions of Region 4.
The winning team received a trophy and medals along with a full complement of gears including uniforms, balls and shin pads for their effort, while the losers were presented with medals and urged to do better next year.
Digicel Events and Sponsorship Manager Gavin Hope speaking at the presentation ceremony thanked the players, teachers and most importantly the parents for their support throughout the tournament, while the executive of the Wales Community Centre came in for praise as well.
He reminded the winners that should they progress further into the tournament outright they have the opportunity to win $500,000 for a project of their choice for the school.
He urged them not to rest on their laurels since the further they progress the tougher the opponents will be and they should use the ten-day period to enhance their preparations.

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