Giovanni Gordon was the toast of his Eastern Boys Government teammates as he fired in a second-half hat-trick to lead his team to a 4-1 whipping of last year's winner and six-time champion, Carenage Government Primary, in the finals of the Port-of-Spain and Environs, Atlantic-sponsored Primary School Football League, yesterday.
In the girls' final, national champions St Agnes Anglican retained its crown after it blanked St Barb's 3-0 led by two goals from Quinsila Browne in the 15th and 20th minutes, and a second-half own goal. Playing in blistering sunshine at a lush green Queen's Royal College Ground, St Clair, Highley Beckles handed Eastern the lead in the 15th minute. Four minutes later, Carenage drew level thanks to Joshua Sylvester for a 1-1 score at the half-time interval in the 50-minute contest.
On the resumption, it was all Gordon as he found the target in the 36th, 38th and 50th minute as Eastern outplayed its rival to capture its first title in 23 years and end a run of three straight defeats to Carenage, all in extra-time, over the past four years.
In the semifinal round on Thursday, Eastern got goals from Jaheim Cudjoe (15th), Cecil Young (19th) and Gordon (47th) to beat Our Rose 3-1, with Jesse William getting a consolation item for Our Rose in the 59th minute. A day earlier, Carenage secured a hard-fought 2-1 win over St Agnes Anglican School at the Queen's Park Savannah with Marcus Pilgrim and Delani Zamore on target for the winners to cancel out Richard Sirjoo's item.
The Clarence Street, St James-based St Agnes booked its spot in the final after beating Diego Martin while St Barb's earned the right to be in the final by defeating Diamond Vale Gov't 2-1. Today (Friday), School Supervisor II Rose Bereaux will kick off the ball in the girls' final and School Supervisor I Ahmad Yusuff Ali will kick off the ball for the boys' final.
Friday results:
Boys' final: Eastern Gov't 4 (Giovanni Gordon 36th, 38th, 50th, Highley Beckles 15th) vs Carenage Gov't 1 (Joshua Sylvester 19th)
Girls' final: St Agnes 3 (Quinsila Browne 15th, 20th, own goal 35th) St Barb's 0
