Latest update December 23rd, 2024 3:40 AM
McNaughton’s hat-trick leads Waramadong past Sir Leon 5-2 & semi date with Annai
By Franklin Wilson
Waramadong was intent on returning the favour to
Sir Leon which had defeated them last year at this very stage of the Digicel Schools’ Football Championships and they succeeded in admirable style, humbling their rivals 5-2 at the Synthetic Track and Field facility in Leonora yesterday when four quarter final matches were contested.
But it was the manner in which Waramadong cantered to victory that was venerable; conditions were just right for free flowing football unlike last year when the two sides met at the Bartica Community Center ground on a very soggy field.
And, having defeated Uitvlugt on Sunday at the same venue, the Region 7 champions were high in spirits and relished the opportunity to send Sir Leon packing. From the onset, the calm yet lethal composure of the winners were evident as they attacked the eastern goal going against the wind.
Coming with the wind behind their backs, Sir Leon fancied their chances of maintaining dominance over Waramadong and looked the part early on but as the match progressed, the tide gradually turned.
Both sides, to their credit created chances and could have scored early on but were off target. However, it was Reon McNaughton, who, like he did in their previous matches who took on the opposition and he did it again in fine style.
On 34 minutes, the Waramadong fans, who were becoming agitated, finally got something to cheer about. McNaughton took the ball on the left side of goal and fired the ball on the angle past goalie Sherwin Luke to evoke wild applause from their supporters which again came out in their numbers.
Waramadong 1 Sir Leon 0. The score remained unchanged at the end of the first 45 minutes as the momentum was clearly with the leaders.
The second half saw a more purposeful Sir Leon team which began play in very attacking mode which brought the desired result, the equalizing goal which came via a penalty after their attacker was brought down by custodian, Reese Gomes who was having a good game up to that point.
Tyrese Forde was awarded the opportunity to take the shot and he beat Gomes to his right to level the score at 1-1 in the 47th minute, just two minutes into the half and that was exactly what the doctor had ordered for the Sir Leon lads.
But while the momentum swung for a short while for Sir Leon, Waramadong kept the focus and came back blazing as they put the game away in a blistering 16-minute period.
First they took back the lead when they too were awarded a penalty in the 53rd minute, Sir Leon’s Lucork Forde being penalised for bringing down Waramadong’s Whitaker Paul. It was no surprise that McNaughton was given the responsibility of taking the shot and he clinically knocked it home.
Waramadong 2 Sir Leon 1. Two minutes later McNaughton further displayed his knack for scoring goals as he completed a hat-trick, letting off a left footed shot even whilst on the ground that flew past Luke, who like his peers never believed that a shot was coming their way. Waramadong 3 Sir Leon 1.
The match was virtually put beyond Sir Leon in the 63rd minute when Javin Castro let loose a bomber that had goal written all over it, Waramadong’s 4th of the match. Despite Forde netting his and Sir Leon’s second goal in the 79th minute, Waramadong kept up the pressure with timely substitutions.
Ravi Ruddy, who was introduced in the 78th minute for McNaughton, continued where his teammate left off by scoring goal number five in the 87th minute to record an emphatic win and a semi final date against Annai tomorrow at the same venue.
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