North Village 1 St George’s 0

North Village picked up their first win of the season against newly promoted St Georges at Bernard’s Park yesterday.

Jaizel Smith-Deshields, Village’s top scorer last season, opened up his account midway through the second half to ensure his team walked away with maximum points.

Kenny Thompson, Village coach, said he felt his team’s performance was promising.

“We did well in the first half creating some good opportunities and felt that we maybe should have got a little more out of it.

“The message at half-time was to take a little more care in possession in order to create better chances. I thought the players did well and eventually we were able to put one away.”

The game started off at a fast pace with both teams finding openings but neither were able to capitalise.

St Georges were in behind twice early but Lashun Dill hit the side netting from a tight angle with better options in the box, and new signing Clay Darrell could not keep his left-footed effort under the bar, after getting on the end of a Sagi Paynter through ball and dribbling his way into the left side of the box.

At the other end, Jareau Daniels was on the doorstep as he met a low cross from Ian Simmons, but was unable to find the finishing touch at the back post.

As the half wore on Village began to take control of the match and came close twice just before the half. Tahmi Williams’s first time effort from a pull back at the edge of the box came off the outside of the upright, and then Smith-Deshields would hit the opposite post five minutes later with a low drive from similar range.

After the interval, Village began to move the ball a little more effectively and continued to apply pressure on a visibly tiring St George’s outfit, but still struggled to find the target. The visiting side suffered a setback in the 70th minute when Darrell was forced into a premature exit with an ankle injury.

A few minutes later, Village would finally get their break through when substitute Demetre Daniels beat his man down the right side of the box and found Smith-Deshields who swept the ball into the bottom corner from close range.

Late in the match, Daniels almost had his name on the scoresheet when he beat goalkeeper Freddy Hall to a ball in the box but he too would be denied by the woodwork.

SCORERS

Village:: Smith-Deshields 75

TEAMS

North Village (4-3-3): T Bell — K Knights, T Fray, M Brangman, Q Lima — I Simmons (sub: R Rochester, 87), J Briers, Tahmi Williams — J Daniels (sub: J Jennings, 59), J Smith-Deshields, Rai Simons (sub: D Daniels, 68). Substitutes not used:

A Darrell, R Murphy, S Jennings. Booked: T Williams 25, J Daniels 40, J Jennings 95.

St George’s (4-3-3): F Hall — J Darrell, O Bascome, P Anderson, A Francis — J Carlington, D Signor, L Dill — J Brangman (sub: J Dickinson 40), S Paynter (sub T Burgess 64), C Darrell (sub: K Wilson, 70). Substitutes not used: G Wade, K Ottley, W Broadly, K Stevens. Booked: P Andersen, J Darrell, J Carlington, J Dickinson.

Referee: M Wyer.