St. George's top scorer Clay Smith squandered a sackful of opportunities at PHC Stadium yesterday as his side came away with nothing despite dominating the game for long periods.

After falling behind to an own goal after just 10 minutes, the East Enders were forced to step up the pressure early on as they went in search of an equaliser.

Greg Foggo held his head in his hands in disbelief after rising to meet a cross from the left from PHC's Raynell Lightbourne and putting a perfect header past his own 'keeper.

Troy Hall, in the St. George's goal, had no chance.

It was not the best start for Colts, who looked the livelier of the two sides for most of the game. But in the end, after numerous chances to level the score had gone begging, it was to prove decisive.

Smith, returning after a one-match ban, was involved in the action throughout.

He did everything but find the back of the net.

Even when PHC 'keeper Ty Williams was caught off his line late in the game Smith was unable to find the vital finishing touch.

Smith had a couple of chances in the first half -- the best when he jinked past two defenders only to see Williams parry his close-range shot safely round the post for a corner.

But it was the second 45 minutes, with St. George's in the ascendancy in terms of both possession and pressure, which brought a flurry of opportunities for Smith to increase his season's goal tally of 11.

But it was not to be.

With the second half just minutes old, he blasted the ball over the bar, and just seconds later saw a goal-bound shot kept out by the 'keeper's legs.

Williams again denied the St George's striker when he tipped a scorcher around the post after Smith had beaten the offside trap.

And late in the game, after PHC had wasted their own chances to get on the scoresheet, Smith twice put the ball over the bar from close range.

Jerry Laws also had a couple of good chances to get the East Enders back in contention but he too was unable to find the back of the net.

Williams blocked a well-struck shot from Laws early on in the game after a good build-up down the left flank.

And later, Laws split the PHC defence with a great run through the middle, but headed just wide from the resulting corner.

Another goal-scoring chance saw him strike the ball high over the bar, and yet another saw Williams smother the ball at his feet.

PHC often left themselves exposed at the back, refusing to sit back and protect the lead that was handed to them on a plate.

They too created a number of promising attacks but were unable to produce a goal of their own making.

Sheridan Ming forced a great diving save from Hall early in the first half and saw a long-range shot skim past the post minutes later.

He also posed a constant threat during a prolonged spell of pressure midway through the second half when the Zebras looked like they might put the game out of St. George's reach.

There were gasps from the sizeable crowd as the ball floated tantalisingly across the St. George's goal, first from one side then from the other, begging for someone to stick out a boot and guide it home.

PHC: T.Williams, R.Lewis, D.Outerbridge, M.Wade, S.Trott, O.Steede, S.Ming, B.Bean, S.Simons (M.Roberts, 54 mins), R.Lightbourne, W.Trott.

St George's: T.Hall, D.Bailey, P.Bailey, A.Todd, Q.Francis, G.Foggo (D.Winfield, 74 mins), M.Outerbridge (L.Robinson, 77 mins), H.Bascome, J.Laws, D.Richardson, C.Smith.

Referee: Rex Osborne.

Men of the match: Sheridan Ming (PHC); Clay Smith (St. George's).