Somerset Trojans 2

PHC Zebras 1

Somerset Trojans clinched a record equalling eleventh Friendship Trophy in front of their own fans at Somerset Cricket Club last night.

Trojans gave PHC Zebras a dose of their own medicine with two well taken goals on the counterattack and then withstood a second half fightback by the visitors.

Victory drew the home side level with inaugural winners North Village for the most wins in the competition, while avenging a heavy league defeat against the same opponents last month.

Leo Burgess, the Trojans winger, put the West Enders ahead from the penalty spot, before fellow winger Justin Donawa whipped in a second to give Trojans a 2-0 lead at half-time.

Rakeem DeShields, the PHC captain and holding midfielder, pulled one back for the visitors three minutes into the second half to leave the match hanging in the balance.

Zebras controlled most of the second half but were unable to make further inroads as Trojans defended well, with Shaquille Bean, the goalkeeper, making two fine saves in the last minute of time added on to protect his team’s slim lead.

Defeat was tough on PHC, who dominated possession and had more chances.

However, dominance and possession count for nothing if you cannot put the ball in the back of the net and it is here where Trojans had the edge over their perennial rivals.

Donawa, one of several college students home for the holidays in Trojans’ line-up, was a thorn in PHC’s side from the outset with his pace and willingness to shoot from just about any angle.

PHC started off the brighter of two teams with Tre Ming, the midfielder, chipping just over the bar from 30-yards after spotting Bean off his line.

At the opposite end Troy Hall, the PHC goalkeeper, dived full length to push Donawa’s angled drive around the post for a corner.

PHC continued to enjoy the early exchanges and looked the more likely to break the deadlock.

However, the game was turned on its head during a quick break, when Burgess was brought down in the box by Mikey Lambe, the PHC centre back.

After getting back to his feet and dusting himself off, Burgess calmly stroked the ball into the bottom left corner to give Trojans the lead.

Zebras nearly hit back twice with Ming firing just wide from an angle, and then back-heeling Marco Warren’s cross just past the far post with the Trojans defence frozen solid.

After weathering the storm and catching their second breath Trojans began to apply more pressure in the attacking third.

Donawa gave a warning of things to come when he unleashed a vicious volley that Hall brilliantly tipped over the bar.

However, there would be no denying the winger moments later when he finished off a superb counterattack and scored what turned out to be the winner.

With PHC’s defence high up the pitch, Donawa took possession just inside the opposition’s half, dribbled several yards and then smashed the ball past Hall.

PHC started the second half with an even greater sense of urgency and were ultimately rewarded after DeShields rose in the box to head in Ming’s corner kick.

The game opened up a bit with Donawa rolling a shot inches wide after getting behind the defence, and Shakir Smith, the PHC forward, firing just wide on the turn.

Proceedings were delayed for several minutes after Na’eem Griffith, the PHC centre back, collided with Jonathan Bean, the Trojans striker. Both players required treatment with Griffith, who was booked for the tackle, coming out the worst with a cut to the face.

Trojans lost some of their sting in attack as Donawa came down with cramp, and were let off the hook after PHC had the ball cleared off the line and an effort disallowed for offside.

Trojans spurned two glorious opportunities to kill the game off with Jonathan Bean blasting Justin Corday’s cross over from close range, and substitute Makai Joell placing a free header wide.

Shaquille Bean, the Trojans goalkeeper, spared his team-mates the blushes as he repelled back-to-back efforts from Tristan Hall, the PHC midfielder, right at the death.