X-Roads 1 Somerset Trojans 3

Somerset Trojans picked up their first away win of the season at Garrison Field yesterday.

Justin Donawa, Vernon Perinchief and Justin Corday, scored Somerset’s goals — all in the first half. Mackih McGowan replied for X-Roads midway through the second period.

This was a key match for both sides, with just two points separating seventh-placed X-Roads from eighth-placed Trojans, and with both sides looking to pull away from the relegation zone.

Trojans made the brighter start, with their front three of Jaz Ratteray-Smith, Justin Corday, and Justin Donawa, known as “the J Team”, causing X-Roads problems right from the kick-off.

And it was Donawa who broke the deadlock, in the 25th minute. Corday picked up a loose pass in the X-Roads midfield, and fed the ball to Donawa. The speedy winger, who is back home from college for the Christmas break, raced into the box, picked his spot and delightfully chipped the ball into the net.

Then, within five minutes, Trojans doubled their lead. The Trojans were awarded a free kick which midfielder Vernon Perinchief took. The ball came to Ratteray-Smith, who dummied it and caught the goalkeeper off guard, allowing the ball to roll straight into the net.

With a two-goal lead, Somerset were able to take control of the game and set the rhythm. And they were able to carve out more chances to increase their lead.

However, they did not get another goal until just before half-time. In first-half injury time, Somerset were awarded a corner and the ball fell to Corday. He made no mistake, drilling the ball low into the net from close range. It started to rain right at the start of the second half, but Somerset were still able to kick off in a similar manner to how they had started the first. They were again dominating possession and creating a host of chances. However, they were not able to extend their lead.

With Trojans’ failing to convert their second-half dominance into more goals to put the game to bed, there was always a chance that X-Roads could find a way back into the game. And they did just that, midway through the second half. In the 65th minute, the Trojans defence was caught out by a long ball over the top and the X-Roads substitute McGowan latched onto it and fired home.

McGowan’s goal gave his side hope and they soon started creating a few more chances. With midfielders Philip Parsons and Tymon Daniels both coming close to grabbing a second for their side. Somerset recently took a 3-0 lead against Flanagan’s Onions, only to allow Onions to come back and tie the game, and so after McGowan scored they may have had fears of a repeat of the Onions game.

However, this time Trojans were able to buckle down and manage the game for the remaining 25 minutes, to ensure that they would not let another 3-0 lead slip.

This was due to good saves from the restored Shaquille Bean in the Trojans goal and some less than clinical finishing from X-Roads.

GOALSCORERS

X-Roads

McGowen 65

Somerset Trojans

Donawa 25, Perinchief 29, Corday 47

TEAMS

X-Roads (4-3-3): J Burrows – A Burgess, J Furbert, K Wilkinson, K Brangman (sub: O Williams, 45 min) – P Parsons, T Daniels, J Swan – W Spencer (sub: M McGowan, 60), K Davis-Jones, J Sanchez (sub: R Beek, 74). Substitutes not used: Teiko Lowe, Terencio Lowe, K Talbot.

Somerset Trojans (4-3-3): S Bean — J Seymour, T Ming, S Brangman, R Quinn – M Joell, V Perinchief (sub: M Jones, 60), Jadan Ratteray-Smith – J Donawa, J Corday (sub: T Bean, 80), Jaz Ratteray-Smith (sub: J Butterfield, 70). Substitutes not used: H Butterfield, A Charles, C Durham, J Morrissey, R Simmons.

Referee: A Bailey.