At the end of Week 4 of the National Sports Council Youth Football Summer Tournament at the Third World Field beside St. Martin’s in Lake Independence, one U-13 team from a bunch of nine remains undefeated, as Ladyville Jaguars sports a 4-win, 2-draw record from their six games so far. In U-15, Caesar Ridge is also undefeated after five games. Next week is the last week of the tournament’s regular competition, with semifinal and championship matches taking place the following week.
In game 1 played on Monday, August 4, (U-13) Yabra and Back-A-Town played to a 1-1 draw, with Akeem Williams of Yabra, and Leroy Sutherland of Back-A-Town shaking the net. Game 2 (U-13) was a default win for Ladyville Jaguars over Belize, who failed to field a team. Game 3 (U-15) was another draw, Jane Usher and Back-A-Town winding up 2-2. Michael Lambey and Hayward Hulse got a goal apiece for Jane Usher, while Akeem Trapp and Ledwin Dixon did the same for Back-A-Town. And in game 4 (U-15), Third World shut out Poor & Famous, 3-0, with two goals from Ganzy Barrow and one from Anthony Wagner.
On Tuesday, (U-13) Raiders dropped Jane Usher, 1-0, with a goal from Ivory Copious; and (U-13) Third World got the win over Lake-I Heroes by default.
Wednesday saw (U-13) Ladyville Jaguars keeping their undefeated record in tact with a 0-0 draw against Yabra. In the next game, (U-13) Caesar Ridge shocked Belize, 3-1, on two goals from Randy Franklin and one from Shamar Moore. Rudolph Flowers got Belize’s only goal. The other scheduled U-13 encounter was won by Third World over Brown Bombers by default. In the final game of the day, (U-15) Caesar Ridge blasted Poor & Famous, 5-0, behind four more goals from leading goal scorer Michael Augustine and one from Shamar Moore, who apparently plays for both the U-13 and the U-15 teams.
Four games were scheduled for today to end the week. (U-13) Jane Usher won by default over Brown Bombers in game 1. Game 2 (U-13) was a 0-0 stalemate between Raiders and Back-A-Town. Game 3 saw (U-15) Yabra burning Back-A-Town, 1-0, on a goal from Kareem Williams. And in the final game of the day, (U-15) Third World came from 2-1 down in the second half, to tie it up at the penalty spot, and then clinch the 3-2 victory over a game Jane Usher squad. Raheem Staine (2) and Jamie Dominguez got the goals for Third World. Akeem Courtney and Hayward Hulse scored for Jane Usher. This loss puts U-15 Jane Usher out of contention for the semifinals.
Week 5, next week, is the critical final week of the regular competition, as only the top four teams from each category will go on to the semifinals the following week. The situation is pretty clear cut in U-15, as Yabra, Caesar Ridge, Back-A-Town and Third World are assured a spot in the semis. But the U-13 is another story. Yabra, Brown Bombers and Belize are mathematically out of it, but the six other U-13 teams are in a battle for the four spots in the semifinals. It should be exciting next week. See present standings above.