St George’s 1 North Village 2

League leaders North Village came out on top in a thrilling Saturday afternoon Premier Division encounter at Wellington Oval.

Goals from Daion Swan-DeSilva and D’Andre Wainwright served to more than offset a single first-half strike by Jonté Smith, allowing Village to extend their points lead to six, while leaving St George’s buried in mid-table on eight points.

Nevertheless, one would have been hard-pressed to identify the supposed superior team, as Colts emerged firmly in attack mode from the opening whistle.

The home team’s strike force comprising Drewonde Bascome, Smith and Ryan King asked more than a few questions in the opening moments and when Village were unable to respond, Jonte Smith offered a goal as the answer.

Situated deep on the left, Oyinde Bascome was able to locate a charging Smith at the top of the penalty area, with the latter able to control, halt his forward momentum and shed his marker, before picking out the low, left corner

Village returned fire as Wainwright flashed a header just over the crossbar, while King came close on St George’s counter, his close range effort blocked away for a corner by Detre Bell.

However, while the first half featured enthralling end-to-end team play, the unquestioned star was the game’s youngest, as Swan-DeSilva offerred a symphonic demonstration of sublime ball skills, vision and masterful execution that was worth the price of admission.

So it was only just that the teenager was the one to draw his side level on the stroke of half-time, although the goal was more the fault of a defence in disarray than Swan-DeSilva’s shooting prowess.

Swan-DeSilva sent in a curling, intended cross directed at Pierre Smith inside the six-yard box. As defenders gawked without movement, Jahquil Hill remained anchored and Smith failed to get a touch, with the ball finding a route into the left corner.

“What more can we say about Daion?” began coach Kenny Thompson in describing the play of his star midfielder, who has scored six goals this season.

“He’s certainly had a good start to the season. He’s 16 years old but playing with a very high level of maturity, which is the big thing.

“The confidence is there, of course, but his having the maturity to know what’s required at different stages of the game really matters.

“At 16 it’s easy to just run around, but he’s very calculating in everything he does, relative to what the team needs at various stages of the game. He’s put himself in a position where he is a very important player for us.”

Swan-DeSilva continued his torment of St George’s after the interval as Village went in search of a go-ahead goal, but it was Jordan Outerbridge who came closest to putting Rams ahead in the 61st minute.

Outerbridge, playing just a few days after the midweek murder of his brother Wilfred Outerbridge, just missed scoring from a rebound with his searing shot from 20-yards skimming over the crossbar in the 61st minute.

Nine minutes later Wainwright notched the winner as referee Tyshun Simons awarded a penalty after a goalbound blast from the boot of Tre Ming came off the hand of Smith.

Wainwright had his spot kick saved by a diving Hill, but the goalkeeper could do little to prevent the big striker pummelling in the rebound.

St George’s were valiant to the end, as they sought an equaliser but Village’s defence stood strong.

“It shows where the team is at the moment, because we had to show a lot of character, first to find our way back from a one-goal deficit and then at 2-1, in a crucial part of the game, to withstand some sustained pressure,” said Thompson.

“We stood up to it and stayed strong. We stayed focused. The concentration level remained high and then, towards the end, we were able to move the game closer to their goal to manage the game out.

“So, that’s where the team is at the moment with the focus and the character to try to play well and at the same time. When it’s time to fight, they were ready to fight.”

For the east enders, the result continued a worrisome trend as they have now recorded just two victories in seven matches.

Coach Jarreau Hayward was understandably disappointed at the end, particularly as his charges were able to match the league leaders throughout in every department apart for goals scored.

“I thought it was a little bit disappointing, especially how they scored the second goal, but that’s how football goes sometimes,” said the coach. “I’m really proud of my guys today, but we have to improve, so back to the lab this week.

“The first goal was also a bit unfortunate, but we have to be better with balls in the box and taking care of our box and we have to better in the other box, their box.

“Those are areas to improve on, but, again, I’m proud of our guys and I know the spirits will be high and we just have to get back to work.

“We were back to our attacking ways, which is what I wanted us to get back to.

“Obviously we’re missing a lot of players, which is not an excuse, given the players that we do have, but we need to get better and we will get better.

“There are still ways to go in the season, so we have to just take it a game at a time.”

SCORERS

St George’s: Smith 9

North Village: Swan-DeSilva 45, D Wainwright 70.

TEAMS

St George’s (4-3-3): J Hill 7 – T Burgess 6, N Paynter 6, M Paynter 6, A Francis 6 (sub: J Salaam, 60min 5) – K Minors 6, O Bascome 6, K Hall 7 (sub: P Anderson, 90) – D Bascome 7, R King 7, O Bascome 6, J Smith 6 5. Substitutes not used: Z Burgess, C Burns, G Wade. Booked: N Paynter, J Salaam.

North Village (3-5-2): D Bell 6 – K Knights 6, T Wilson 6, R Sampson 6 – J Harvey 6, A Dos Santos 7, J Outerbridge 7, D Swan-DeSilva 8, T Ming 6 – D Wainwright 7 (sub: I Simmons, 90), P Smith 6 (sub: K Harrison, 84). Substitutes not used: V Perinchief, Tariq Bean, N Anglin, Tokia Bean, L Evans. Booked: Wilson, Dos Santos.

Referee: T Simons.