North Village 1 Devonshire Cougars 0

Shayne Hollis’s strike early in the second half earned North Village a valuable victory at Bernard Park yesterday to keep the pressure on Premier Division title contenders Robin Hood and PHC Zebras.

Hollis finished off a move by scoring past goalkeeper Xyon Outerbridge-Smith from the right side of the penalty box for the only goal in a game that was dominated by the blustery conditions. The northwesterly wind favoured Cougars in the first half as they attacked the eastern goal, but despite their large share of possession, they created just one clear-cut chance in the half, an effort from midfielder Charmari Burns after a free kick that goalkeeper Tahj Bell tipped away for a corner late in the half.

Village did not take long to capitalise on the wind advantage in the second half, with Hollis striking early and clinically to break the deadlock and put the home side on course for a victory that keeps them in the title race ahead of their make-up match with Dandy Town at Goose Gosling Field on Wednesday.

Cougars lost defender Nyhrobi Carmichael with a leg injury a minute later.

Cougars reacted quickly to going a goal down with Mikkel Thomas testing Bell with a well-struck free kick on the hour from 25 yards that the goalkeeper parried away.

Moments later Cougars brought on Lovintz Tota for striker Mark Steede and he immediately started to threaten with his pace as the visiting side applied some pressure in search of an equaliser.

However, the Village defence of Phillip Parsons, Terryn Fray, Jalen Harvey and Jason Davis stood firm as the home team hung on for the win that moves them three points behind leaders Robin Hood.

There was a late injury scare for Village when captain Keishen Bean limped off in the 86th minute to be replaced by Lashun Dill.

“We’ll have to wait to see what the physio says, I can’t say,” said coach Devarr Boyles when asked about the injury ahead of the match with champions Town.

TEAMS

North Village (4-3-3): T Bell — P Parsons, T Fray, J Harvey, J Davis — J Briers, T Watson (sub: Sampson, 89min), R Bean — S Hollis, N Smith (sub: D Daniels, 69), K Bean (sub: L Dill, 86). Substitutes not used K Knights, T Wilson, Z Bowen, A Furbert.

Devonshire Cougars (4-4-2): X Outerbridge-Smith — N Carmichael (sub: H Stevens-Carty, 51), Zekiro White, Zeko White, C Burns — C Brangman, K Franks, M Battersbee, M Thomas — J Mallory (sub: N Simmons, 79), M Steede (sub: L Tota, 61). Substitute not used: Z Simmons.

Referee: M Wyer.