Waramadong, Christianburg set up dream final tomorrow

Jul 14, 2012 Sports

Digicel Nationwide Schools Football Competition…

By Rawle Welch
Any true football aficionado would have dreamt of a Waramadong versus Christianburg final and lo and behold that vision came through yesterday when they both registered contrasting wins in their respective semi-final matchups in the Digicel Nationwide Schools Football Competition which concluded, at the Eve Leary and Dem Amstel grounds.

McCurd Crammer

Despite the unhelpful developments that have surfaced during the tournament, no one could dispute the fact that the Digicel Tournament should be the yardstick used to select a true composition of a national junior team and nothing else.
Over at the Den Amstel Community Centre ground, beaten finalist in the inaugural tournament Christianburg undaunted by the majority support for St. Ignatius survived a stern test to make it a second trip to the championship round after defeating them 4-3 in a match that was played on a soggy pitch.
On target for the winners was Yannick Simon, who netted a brace in the 46th and 68th minutes, while Alan Halley (4th) and Travin Dryden (82nd) completed their tally.
St. Ignatius, who many felt were unfortunate not to advance, got their goals off the boots of Franklyn Parks (7th), Kenroy Robinson (43rd) and Michael Smith (80th).
They will now have to play Bygeval on Sunday in the third place playoff.
Over at Eve Leary, Waramadong led by Cirilo George, who found the back of the net in the 17th, 22nd, 36th, 38th, 58th and 71st minutes led the way for the Region 7-based team which inflicted a crushing 12-1 win over Bygeval.
George was supported by Mc Curd Kramer’s hat-trick which was netted in the 72nd, 83rd and 88th minutes of play, along with Kenzy George (49th), Myles Albert (63rd) and Armon Fredericks’ 64th minute goals.
Samuel Charles 62nd minute strike was the consolation goal for Bygeval.
In the Christianburg versus St. Ignatius game, the Lindeners took the lead very early through Halley, but St. Ignatius responded almost immediately through Parks.
They eventually took the lead when Robinson reached on to the end of a corner kick that had eluded goalkeeper and defender and fired in from close range.
That scored remained until the half. Immediately after the resumption, Christianburg gained the equalizer through Simon, who spilt two defenders from a well directed squared ball from the right flank and pierced the goalkeeper with a cracking shot.
Bouyed by their success, Christianburg orchestrated several attacking plays, and eventually got their reward when Simon completed his double from the penalty spot after a teammate was fouled inside the box.

Repeat finalist Christianburg Secondary School poses for a photo op following their semi-final triumph over St. Ignatius yesterday.

However, the game was to experience another twist when Smith took full advantage of being left unchecked inside the penalty area following a scrimmage and booted home from close range.
With both teams attacking and looking for the ascendancy everyone knew that something was about to happen and it did as Christianburg won a corner and up strode the big central defender Blyden, who rose above everyone else and headed past the keeper sending the sprinkling of Linden supporters into rapturous celebration.
They survived several tense moments after that before the final whistle sounded to set up a clash with Waramadong tomorrow.