Pinegrove, Lawrence, APS, Sherwood score victories

Sanawar, Aug 27 (UNI) Karan Solanki performed three-in-a-row feat on the opening day as Pinegrove School of Subathu beat Yadvindra Public School of Mohali by 3-1 in Pool A fixture of the 10th Bhupinder Singh Memorial Football Tournament at Lawrence School ground here today.

Displaying brilliant dribbling skills and shooting power, Solanki, with good support from his colleagues, opened the account for Pinegrove School in the fifth minute. YPS Mohali fought back with a determination and neutralised the lead through Harpreet who scored in the 10th minute.

Pinegrove School then pressed hard and Solanki booted home two more goals to down YPS Mohali. Pinegrove School forward Solanki then put his team ahead with a solo effort in the 22nd minute. Solanki further increased the victory margin for Pinegrove School as he brilliantly executed a header after receiving a floater from the right flank.

Hosts Lawrence School started their campaign with a bang as they defeated their traditional rivals Bishop Cotton School of Shimla by 3-1 in the second Pool A outing. Cheered by their colleagues Lawrence School took just five minutes to forge ahead as Penjo Wanchuk caught the BCS defence on the wrong foot. Lawrence School doubled the score through Nippon booted home a goal in the 13th minute.

Despite down by two goals, Bishop Cotton School were not disheartened. With three minutes left in the match, Prithvi Thakur reduced the margin with a fine goal. Lawrence School counter-attacked and Nippon foxed the BCS with a powerful shot and gave his team a well-deserved victory.

A brace by Gurmeet paved the way for Army Public School, Digshai to beat Yadvindra Public School of Patiala by 4-2. Spearheading the APS attack, Gurmeet drew the first blood for his school in the seventh minute. Maintaining pressure, APS made it 2-0 through Phunchok. YPS Patiala boys reorganised their game and launched counter-attack. Their moves bore fruits in the 18th minute as Udaybir Singh scored the first goal for his team. The Digshai boys further increased the margin through Lalit Kumar in the 45th minute.

Gursimarpal netted the second goal for YPS in the 50th minute.

Gurmeet rounded of the winners' tally in the 65th minute.

Meanwhile, in the Group B fixture, Sherwood College, Nainital eked out a narrow 1-0 win over Doon School of Dehradun. The all-important goal was scored by Rajiv Gupta in a solo effort in the sixth minute.

UNI