PHC Zebras 3 BAA 0

PHC Zebras returned to the top of the table after Robin Hood took possession of the top spot on Saturday night, with two goals in the second half completed a comfortable, if not impressive, victory at PHC Field yesterday.

The Zebras were deserving of the win but the performance was hardly inspiring, assistant coach Winston Trott Jr, admitted afterwards. “It wasn’t a very good game, so back to the drawing board as we have to get better for the next game,” said Trott who had two sons, goalkeeper Shaquille and rightback Shakhai, playing for the Zebras.

“We had more than enough chances but in every part of the field it was just terrible. The three points is all that we can take from this game. There was nothing to be excited about.”

BAA, with only one substitute, came close to keeping a clean sheet in the first half after they were forced to make a late replacement when defender Antrell Butterfield limped off and was replaced by Antonio Carvelho in the 40th minute. PHC took the lead right at the half when defender Troy Tucker was blown for a handball after Marquel Waldron’s shot from close range inside the box was blocked. Cecoy Robinson stepped up to score from the spot.

PHC also made their first substitution because of injury early in the second half when Daren Usher was fouled by Alaye Darrell. Usher was replaced by DeAndre Smith-Lightbourne.

Tre Ming went close with a volley from inside the box that hit the crossbar after a PHC corner on the right as the home team looked to cushion their lead. It came seven minutes later when a cross from the right by Marco Warren found Ming at the far post to tuck his left-footed effort inside the post.

BAA adjusted their formation, pushing Keishen Bean and Drewonde Bascome further forward with striker Rushaine Murphy dropping into midfield. Bean went close in the 73rd minute when he chased a through ball but goalkeeper Trott spotted the danger and was quick out of his six-yard box to clear the threat.

Then Murphy missed a chance for BAA, latching onto a long ball from the halfway line that had Trott scrambling back before the ball hit the crossbar.

Jaheim Iris settled the win in the final minute when he scored from a rebound after Warren’s shot came back off the upright. Iris tapped into the open goal.

Goals

PHC Zebras: Robinson 45 pen, Ming 69, Iris 90

TEAMS

PHC Zebras: Shaquille Trott — Shakhai Trott, R DeShields, M Lambe, D Usher (sub: D Smith-Lightbourne, 56min), T Ming (sub: Z Ming-Wilson, 85), M Waldron, K Hypolite (sub: M Simmons, 89); M Warren, J Iris, C Robinson. Substitutes not used: M Wilson,Z Lee, J Sealey, N Edwards.

BAA: A McDowell — V Capitillo, T Tucker, I Simmons, A Butterfield (sub: A Carvelho, 40), A Darrell, L Roberts, D Bascome, K Bean, N Rego, R Murphy. Booked: A Darrell, K Bean.

Referee: G Swainson.