Captain Anjana Gunawardena’s hat-trick secured a 3-0 win for a rather lacklustre Maris Stella College in their All Island Schools’ U19 Division I group stage encounter against Wickramabahu College, Gampola at the Maris Stella College grounds.
The hosts Maris Stella invaded the opposition half from kick-off troubling the defence and making attempts on goal although none were strong enough to trouble the Wickramabahu College goalkeeper K. Piushan.
The visitors also made occasional runs towards the goal but were cut down by the Maris defence before they could do any damage. Hesitative play in midfield by Bahuwans also gifted the ball to the hosts many a time.
Maris Stella received a horde of free kicks but failed to convert any of them mounting the number of failed attempts on goal.
Piushan came up for a high ball but missed while the ball went over to Luke Sanjaya whose clumsy attempt rebounded off a defender. Anjana collected the ball thereon and stuck it in the nets easing the nerves of the hosts.
The towering Thathsara Fernando would’ve put in a second goal minutes later, had his header off a corner found the back of the net rather than the feet of a Bahuwan defender.
Refereeing was quite feeble today as the main referee seemingly turned a blind eye on many fouls especially when a successive push from behind and a jersey tug by the hosts, went unnoticed.
M.A. Seepan struck a beautiful free-kick just before half time and would’ve equalized had not Kanishka Silva made a brilliant finger tip save.
Half time – Maris Stella College 1 – 0 Wickramabahu College
Maristonians kept up the attack in the second half but failed to score due to top notch saves by Piushan against the Anjana Gunawardena shots and very poor finishing by the forward duo Luke and Nisal Tharinda.
Nisal missed many chances especially in a one-on-one situation with the keeper where both his initial and rebound attempts were tame shots towards the keeper. He was also guilty in conceiving numerous off-sides to which he received stern words from the coach.
A rather unfair play took place when Kanishka, who collected a long through ball was tackled by the Bahuwan duo P.S.Chandrasena and M.P.Dananjaya who came running towards the keeper. The ball slipped from Kanishka’s hands and went into the goal but it was disallowed by the referee followed by severe warnings to Chandrasena and Dananjaya.
Piushan’s streak of magnificent saves ended as Anjana put in two more goals in the 65th and 71st minutes to complete the hat-trick granting the Maristonians a 3 – 0 lead.
Seepan made one last shot at goal but it wasn’t powerful enough to trouble the keeper Kanishka who made an easy collect of the ball.
Full time – Maris Stella College 3 – 0 Wickramabahu College
ThePapare.com Player of the Match – Anjana Gunawarden
Goal Scorers
Maris Stella College – Anjana Gunawardena 12’, 65’, 71Bookings
Yellow cards
P.S.Chandrasena 56’
Coach of Maris Stella College, Mr. Sugath Fernando;
“Our team’s performance was not up to scratch today. We missed a lot of goal chances and it maybe because our boys considered the adversaries lightly. But our next opponent St.Joseph’s is a strong team and have 3 wins up their sleeve and we hope to put up a good fight.”
Coach of Wickramabahu College Mr. Ukwatta also provided his thoughts to ThePapare.com;
“This is our first match. We couldn’t field in a couple of players due to injuries. Also I am very unsatisfied about the referee decisions today.”
