Young Men’s Social Club 3 X-Roads 2

Giniko Butterfield scored a late free-kick in added time to steer Social Club further away from the Premier Division relegation zone with an important victory at Police Field on Sunday.

X-Roads started brightly in a physical encounter and got the breakthrough their early attacking intent deserved when Tymon Daniels found Jamin Lottimore in space, and he dribbled around Kimshun Smith before firing past stand-in goalkeeper Casey Hardtman.

Social Club gradually found a way to play through the aggressive press and their equaliser came from a corner. Teron Butterfield swung the set-piece into the area and Smith recycled the play for Josh Hardtman to loop a header over goalkeeper Q’Shai Darrell into the far corner.

The promoted side had their tails up, gaining territory and control before they quickly scored another set-piece goal. Butterfield’s initial effort well saved by Darrell before Hardtman stepped in and fired into the roof of the net.

X-Roads suffered a few injuries to key players during that first period, with Seth Somner and Angelo Matthews coming off with leg and groin injuries respectively.

The second half began with both sides giving the ball away and struggling to get a foothold in the game until X-Roads equalised just after the hour.

Lottimore, a constant threat on the left wing, fed Daniels who clipped a ball wide for Rico Beek to lash into the near post past a motionless Hardtman.

Giniko Butterfield had a glorious opportunity to put Social Club in front again, after David Jones Jr found him in the penalty area with a through ball, but he dragged his effort wide.

Social Club coach Michael Smith was then sent off after and argument with referee Stefan Maybury and just minutes before the end Butterfield made amends for his glaring miss, smashing a free-kick from the left into the near post past Darrell with the last meaningful opportunity of the game.

“We fought and defended well,” Butterfield said. “They are improving every week, but we stayed together and I took the final opportunity.”

SCORERS

Social Club: J Hardtman 23, 33; G Butterfield 90+1

X-Roads: Lottimore 4; Beek 61

TEAMS

Social Club (4-2-3-1): C Hardtman 6 – T Butterfield 6, C Woolridge 5, Kelvon Butterfield 5, K Smith 5 – R Parris 6, J Hardtman 7 – D Jones Jr 6, J Johnson 6, M Wilson 5 (sub: K Rawlings, 88min) – G Butterfield 6. Substitutes not used: Keshun Butterfield, M Williams, M Smith; Booked: M Smith (coach). Sent off: M Smith (coach).

X-Roads (4-3-3): Q Darrell 6 – A Matthews 5 (sub: O Williams, 24 5), J Smith 4, C Smith 5, R Beek 6 (sub: T Whited, 74) – S Somner 5 (sub: D Woolridge, 42 5), T Daniels 6, A Spencer 5 – J Lottimore 6, D Thompson 5, D Baker 5 (sub: A Johnston, 74). Substitutes not used: C Whited; Booked: Baker, T Whited, J Smith. Sent off: J Smith

Referee: S Maybury