PHC Zebras 1

North Village 1

One feared a tough afternoon for home side PHC when North Village took a lead through Jason Lee after a minute's play, but it wasn't a sign of things to come for the visitors.

Such was the fierce comeback by PHC in the second half that they could have easily won by a convincing margin against opponents who no longer could display any of that explosiveness and striking potential exhibited in the early stages of the contest at Southampton Oval.

Substitute Raynel Lightbourne grabbed the thoroughly deserved equaliser for PHC after 69 minutes with the goal coming after some sustained pressure by PHC.

The previous week PHC's sloppy defence cost them dearly in their shocking 2-1 away loss to Devonshire Colts and they again proved to be overly gracious in defence yesterday when opened the way for Lee to score from close in.

Eight minutes later Lee caused havoc once again but this time his angled shot from 14-yards out on the right was brilliantly saved by the advancing Raymond Glasford in the PHC goal.

The tide suddenly changed mainly because PHC were more creative and busy in the middle where their midfield trio of Jevone Sealey, Chris Furbert and Blenn Bean displayed far more initiative and decisiveness than their counterparts Jamaul Boyles, Devaun Degraff and Vernon Tankard. The end of the half saw PHC step up their game with their best chance coming from Blenn Bean when the midfielder blasted a shot over the bar.

The second half saw a sign of sparkle from PHC from the outset and they were to create sustained pressure for rather extensive spells.

Village goalkeeper Jason Williams pulled off two miraculous saves by advancing off his line to block a hard drive from 12 yards by the speedy Cecoy Robinson and then again following up that brilliant save by diving to block the rebound from Jason Smith's boot.

Village became a disjointed group and their sub-standard play in defence and in the middle of the park often left their front men helplessly out of the game.

After 63 minutes, with an equaliser always looking imminent, PHC were close on getting it once again but this time a Robinson header from a Raynor cross failed to provide dividends with the goal-bound header striking Village's Tankard.

Finally they struck goal, the equaliser coming when a free kick by centre-back Omar Shakir saw Stevie Astwood and Lightbourne combine with the latter forcing the ball into goal from close in.

PHC were never able to get the go-head goal but they remained in full charge and never looked like losing once they were inspired by Astwood and Lightbourne. For Village it was a terribly poor second half when they faded in all phases of the game and seldom caused any real concern.

PHC: R.Glasford; F.Franklin, O.Shakir, S.Smith, K.Griffith (R.Lightbourne, 57 min); J.Sealey, B.Bean, C.Furbert; J.Raynor, J.Smith (S.Astwood, 57 min), C.Robinson (C.Castle, 85 min).

Substitutes not used: R.Richardson, K.Lambe, J.Franklin, Q.Burgess.

Scorer: R.Lightbourne.

North Village: J.Williams; J.Sousa (R.Wilson, 77 min), K.Dill, D.Tankard, M.Swan (P.Smith, 55 min); J.Boyles, D.Degraff, V.Tankard; R.Bean, J.Jennings, J.Lee.

Substitues not used: Jonathan Briers, Z.Hendrickson, C.Castle.

Yellow cards: D.Tankard (Village).

Man of the match: Cecoy Robinson (PHC

Referee: Anthony Mouchette

Scorer: J.Lee, 1