Defending champions St Richards clipped St Benedicts 1-0 as the 2019 Ideal Finance Corporation Limited-sponsored Kingston and St Andrew Primary Schools Sports Association (KSAPSSA) football competition got under way at Melrose Primary School playing field last Thursday.

Kyle Bodden scored the winning goal in the 28th minute of the 40-minute encounter.

Coach of St Richards Bryan McLeod said he was pleased with the win, though he thought they should have scored more goals in a game that they dominated.

“With a little more composure from the players St Richards could have won by a wider margin, although some of the players are playing for the first time and were a bit nervous,” McLeod said.

He said once St Richards had settled down they took complete control of the game as evidenced by the fact that most of the game was played in St Benedicts’ half, but his team was unable to turn chances created into goals.

“Although not winning by more goals, a win is a win, as it also is better than a draw as we have picked up three points because the players worked hard for it. The game was slightly rough but St Richards withstood the challenge from their opponents who are the former Kingston champions,” he added.

Both teams went on the attack in the early stages of the first half and came close to scoring, but all the shots aimed at goal either went to the goalkeeper or over the crossbar.

In the second half, St Richards maintained their dominance, especially through some skilful plays from Bodden, Jemario Hanson, and Zienodean McLean who produced majority of the team’s attacks.

St Benedicts’ goalkeeper Justin Turner did well in preventing goals up to that point, but he was helpless when Bodden received a pass and executed a one-time left-footed grounder that eluded him into the far corner to give St Richards a 1-0 lead in the 28th minute.

St Benedicts produced a few good counter-attacks, especially through Kingsley Graham, but goalkeeper Nathan Watt was left largely unbothered.

The second game scheduled between Melrose Primary and Constant Spring Primary was postponed due to persistent heavy showers and a waterlogged field.

Zone One – St Richards Primary, Half-Way-Tree Primary, Calabar Primary, Swallowfield Primary, Clan Carthy Primary, St Benedicts Primary, and Golden Spring Primary.

Zone Two – Pembroke Hall Primary, Seaward Primary, Greenwich Primary, Harbour View Primary, Mountain View Primary, Irish Gelly Primary, and Maverley Primary.

Zone Three – Maxfield Primary, St Jude’s Primary, Central Branch Primary, Rousseau Primary, Lawrence Tavern Primary, New Day Primary, and Excelsior Primary.

Zone Four – Windward Road Primary, Dupont Primary, Mico Primary, John Mills Primary, Constant Spring Primary, St Patrick’s Primary, and Melrose Primary

The winners and runners-up from each zone will advance to the quarter-finals to be played on a one-match knockout format. The four winners of the quarter-finals will advance to the semi-finals.