Westbury Primary marched into the quarter-finals of the BICO-sponsored National Sports Council’s Primary Schools Football Competition after defeating Hilda Skeene 3-2 on penalty kicks at the National Stadium today.
Playing in the featured game both teams appeared to be evenly matched and that was clearly seen in the first half where the action between both sides went back and forth with equal intensity as they tried desperately to create goal scoring opportunities.
Those opportunities never materialised and the first half ended in a 0-0 scoreline. In the second half both teams came out in search of that all important goal with Westbury striker Zuhri Morris and midfielders Jahmali Hutson and Zavier Springer giving it their all to create that vital opening.
The game went into five minutes of overtime during which both teams attacked for that deciding goal while maintaining very tight defence. Eventually the final whistle came with the scoresheet still reading 0-0.
It was a matter of do or die for both teams at this stage and Westbury captain and goalkeeper Raequan Jones made two brilliant saves that gave his team the advantage. Zuhri Morris had the honour of scoring the winning penalty when he stepped up to the line and blasted the ball past Hilda Skeene goalkeeper Tyreque Nurse to end what was an enthralling contest.
Jahmali Hutson and Jakeem Germaine were the other two scorers from the spot for Westbury while for Hilda Skeene, Renieko Lyte-Griffith and Tyreque Nurse who took off his gloves to shoot his penalty accounted for the two penalties scored.
In the first game Grantley Prescod Primary played superbly to defeat Milton Lynch Primary 2-0. The boys in blue really showed up on the day especially their last man, Lamario Springer who opened the scoring for his team when he received a short corner from Kamaal Bryan and curled a powerful shot into the far right corner of the bars. This gave Grantley Prescod the edge going into the second half of play and they increased their lead when Springer, through a free kick from behind the half-way line, found striker Ranaldo Roberts whose left-footed effort outside the 18-yard box went low past Milton Lynch goalkeeper Jakeem Forde into the back of the nets.
Westbury Primary’s goal scorer Zuhri Morris lets fly a powerful right-footed strike.
Hilda Skeene goalkeeper Jair McAlmont looks to prevent the ball going into the bars.
Westbury Primary’s goalkeeper and captain Raequan Jones makes this brilliant penalty save.