Albion Primary's Aiden Thorpe (centre) dribbles away from Maldon Primary's Dandre Harvey (left) and Duane Grizzle in last week's St James FA/VMF Under 13 game played at WesPow Park. Albion Primary won the game 2-0. (Photo: Paul Reid)
TUCKER, St James—Former champions Howard Cooke Primary and Catherine Hall Primary booked their places in the quarterfinals of the St James Football Association/Victoria Mutual Foundation Under 13 competition after wins over St James Prep and Glendevon Primary, respectively, on Tuesday at WesPow Park.
Howard Cooke Primary edged St James Prep 1-0 to take over the lead in Zone A, one point ahead of two-time defending champions Corinaldi Avenue, who have two games in hand, while Hajari Irving scored a hat- trick as Catherine Hall were 5-1 winners over Glendevon Primary to book their spot from Zone C.
Additionally, Albion Primary completed a perfect Zone C schedule, beating Buckingham Primary 4-0, winning all five games without conceding a goal in the process.
Howard Cooke Primary and Catherine Hall Primary brought to five, the number of schools that have secured quarter-final places, joining Corinaldi Avenue, Barracks Road Primary and Albion Primary.
On Tuesday, Taysean Anderson scored his first goal of the season in the 39th minute as Howard Cooke won their fourth game to secure their place in the next round.
Irving scored his first hat- trick as he led Catherine Hall to a 5-1 win over Glendevon, who were losing their fifth game of the season, scoring in the 15th, 31st and 49th minutes.
Dayquan Haughton had given Catherine Hall the lead in the fourth minute, while Joshua Cooker scored his fourth of the season in the 41st minute as Andre Young scored Glendevon Primary’s first goal of the season in the 54th minute.
Also in Zone C on Tuesday, Granville Primary edged Maldon Primary 1-0, thanks to Fredrick Lewis’ 26th-minute goal, which confirmed Catherine Hall’s qualification, as Maldon could have also finished on 10 points with a win.
Albion Primary ended their first round with a big win. Rahmone Shaw scored a double in the 17th and 25th minutes, while Aiden Thorpe took over the scoring lead with his eighth goal in the 43rd minute, and Daniel Chue scored in the 40th minute.
On Monday, Irwin Primary and Fairfield International Academy improved their chances of securing quarterfinal places after scoring wins on Monday over Flankers Primary and Farm Primary, respectively, at WesPow Park.
Irwin Primary moved into joint lead in Zone D with Chetwood Primary, both on nine points, after edging Flankers Primary 1-0, with Jordane Gordon scoring in the third minute, dampening Flankers’ chances of advancing.
Flankers and Anchovy are also in contention for a place in the next round, both on seven points, with one game to be played.
Fairfield Academy also improved to second place in Zone B after defeating Farm Primary 3-0 in their final first-round game, with goals from Adam Spencer in the 26th minute, Iyla Moe in the 40th minute and Aiden Epstein in the 47th minute.
Fairfield International’s second win took them to eight points, four behind leaders and quarterfinal qualifiers Barracks Road Primary, and they can only be passed by Catadupa Primary on goal difference.
Catadupa are on five points and a negative one goal difference, while Fairfield have a plus four goal difference.
Also on Monday, Somerton Primary scored their first win of the season, edging Mt Salem 1-0 in their Zone A game, with Donjae Morrison scoring in the 59th minute.
John’s Hall and Tower Hill also played out a 1-1 draw in Zone B, with Andre Kerr giving John’s Hall the lead in the 10th minute before Richard Davis scored for Tower Hill.
-Paul Reid