All set for football semis

The final four of the BICO National Sports Council Primary Schools’ Football Competition are locked and loaded for next week's semi-final round. 

 

With Bay Primary and St. Cyprian’s booking their spots earlier this week, Arthur Smith and Charles F Broome joined the fold and will be facing off after taking wins in their respective quarterfinal games yesterday at the National Stadium.

 

A nine-game winning streak was brought to an end after Zone 8's Blackman and Gollop were fed their first loss for the season by Arthur Smith. With two goals on either side of the break, Arthur Smith rolled into the semis with a four-nil win. Playing their second game outside of their group proved to be an eye-opener for Blackman and Gollop, who were up against a side executing intelligent football.

 

The first goal came in the seventh minute when Tremar Cox found himself in the right place at the right time. A cross was sent in from the left and a shot was taken, but the Blackman and Gollop keeper was able to push the ball away. Cox, or 'Happy Feet' as he is affectionately called, pounced on the loose ball and put it away to put Arthur Smith ahead. Ten minutes later, an almost identical situation would present itself. This time, Javon Hurdle got his first of two goals.

 

In the second half, Blackman and Gollop attempted to mount a comeback and put some urgency into their game, but they failed to make a real difference in the middle, where Arthur Smith were most powerful. The outcome became clear in the 34th when Cox got a second goal. Jaheem Wilson swung the ball over body on the right to find Cox, who was by then breathing down the keeper's neck. Making no mistakes with the chance, Cox sank a third into Blackman and Gollop, who did not expect such a rough welcome their first time in the quarter-finals. Hurdle got his second goal two minutes shy of the end after taking on the custodian one-on-one.

 

Things were a bit closer when Zone 4 winners Charles F Broome faced Deacons Primary as the game finished two goals to one. Both sides had a scrappy start 

before coming into their own and it was Charles F that caught form first. Having a whirlwind season this year, Khalil Vanderpool-Nurse opened the account for Charles F in the 15th minute, taking on the keeper after being fed a sound through-ball in the middle. Deacons started to mount an offensive and had begun to put considerable pressure on their opponents when the half was blown.

 

Deacons returned to the field as if they had lost no momentum, and five minutes in Keshawn Smith had an equaliser in the back of the nets. Charles F Broome also had not lost any steam and created several chances at goal and had most of them thwarted by Deacons keeper Shane Carrington, who was the real hero of the match. The youngster displayed a skill and an understanding of the game well beyond his years, making several crucial saves and will be one to watch for the 

future.

 

The tipping point came in the 32nd minute when a Charles F player was brought down in the box. Vanderpool-Nurse went up to the spot and put his shot to the right. Carrington made the right move but could only get a hand to the ball and it got past him to give Charles F Broome the game-winner.

 

The semi-finals are set for next Tuesday at the National Stadium.