Reds 2 Blues 1

Two goals from Calon Minors’s cannon-like left foot gave the Reds victory over the Blues in the Bermuda School Sports Federation’s senior boys’ All-Star match at the National Sports Centre.

The Berkeley Institute midfielder, who was the Reds captain, handed his team the lead with a powerful strike from the edge of the box to spark the game into life on the half-hour mark.

Five minutes later, the Blues pulled level when Liam Evans, of Saltus, aped Minors with a wonder goal of his own, crashing a venomous 35-yard effort into the top corner.

After the break, the Blues controlled possession for lengthy periods, with Machi Battersbee, of CedarBridge Academy, pulling the strings for his side in midfield.

It was from Batterbee’s threaded through-ball that Evans should have scored his second, but the right-sided midfielder sliced his effort wide from a tight angle.

Further chances went begging for the Blues, with CedarBridge Academy’s Aaron Burgess missing a good opportunity before Minors struck again with the match-winner on 78 minutes. The creative midfielder intercepted a loose pass deep inside the Blues’ half before hammering a near-carbon copy of his first goal past the despairing dive of Dazhon Dillas, the Blues goalkeeper.

In the dying moments, the Reds should have levelled when Seth Sommer’s right-wing cross found Isaiah Taylor unmarked at the near post. Inexplicably, however, the striker decided to try an audacious back-heel rather than simply steer the ball towards goal, much to the derision of his frustrated team-mates.

Irving Romaine, the Reds coach, praised Minors for his goalscoring heroics but admitted that he was disappointed that more spectators did not come out and support the match. “It was very good considering the guys have trained together only once,” Romaine, the former North Village defender and Bermuda cricket captain, said. “It’s difficult to gel and get a smooth game but they played very well tonight.

“Calon scored two good goals. In fact, all three goals were great goals. I think the event could have been supported a bit more, as it was a great game and there was plenty of sportsmanship on show.

“We had to check on the players’ grades to make sure their schoolwork was on par as well. Years ago we used to get college scouts come and watch and it’s disappointing that they don’t come any more because some of these players could have earned scholarships.”

Dean Minors, the Blues coach, believed that his side had sufficient chances to win a closely fought game.

“It was an entertaining game and the players went out there and enjoyed themselves,” said Minors, himself a former Bermuda Under-19 forward and latterly the Bermuda wicketkeeper. “I knew we would get another chance at the end, but sadly we couldn’t put it away.

“Macai Battersbee and Terrance Webb have both done very well for us at CedarBridge and they played well for the team tonight. They are both Premier Division players and have good futures ahead of them.”

In the other All-Star matches, the East beat the West 3-1 in the Primary School girls’ game, thanks to goals from Asreal Basden, Jaden Minors and Azarea Mouchette. Sky Minors was on target for the West.

The East were also victorious in the Middle School girls’ match, winning 3-2 with goals from Jadae Steede Hill, Jade Stewart and Nia Chistopher. Leilanni Nesbeth and Tae-Eja Bean scored for the West.

In the Primary School boys’ game, the West claimed a 3-1 victory over the East courtesy of an Enrique Swan brace and a strike from Shane Robinson. Jarryd Richardson scored for the East.

The West earned the bragging rights in the Middle School boys’ match with a 3-2 win. Joseph Basden struck a double salvo and Tia Williams also got in the scoresheet, The East’s scorers were Zuhri Burgess and Isaiah Creighton.

In the Senior School girls’ game, the East won 3-1 in a penalty shoot-out after the match finished 0-0 in regulation time.