X-Roads Warriors 1 PHC Zebras 2

Premier Division Champions PHC Zebras held off a late fightback by ten-men X-Roads to come away with maximum points at Lord’s on Sunday.

PHC were seemingly cruising along comfortably with with six minutes of regulation time remaining as they held a 2-0 advantage and an extra man when experienced striker Donavan Thompson pulled a goal back for X-Roads, who pressed hard for an equaliser but were unable to add to their tally.

“X-Roads always fight no matter who they play,” Zebras coach Quincy Hunt told The Royal Gazette.

“They are a fighting team and we know that, so respect to them for putting up a challenge to us.

“We missed a lot of chances. That’s the way the game goes sometimes but at least we got the three points. That’s the main thing; get three points and try to stay in contention for the league.

“We are on a little roll and have played three or four games in about a week, so it takes a toll on the body.

“Getting guys back healthy and trying to bring guys back in is another challenge, but we are persevering and we are moving on.

“The key today was just being patient. We were patient but sometimes we tried to rush, and I think we were just a little more disciplined when we needed to be.”

X-Roads went close to breaking the deadlock against the run of play when Thompson brought off a save from PHC goalkeeper Quinaceo Hunt with the first attempt of the match on target at either end.

PHC continued to dictate with striker Enrique Russell having a goal flagged offside and a low shot saved by X-Roads goalkeeper Q’Shai Darrell, who was kept busy between the posts throughout the match.

X-Roads were forced to defend for long spells as PHC applied pressure on but threatened once again against the grain when Thompson headed Christian Smith’s cross just over after a counter-attack down the right flank.

An alert Darrell then positioned himself superbly to deny Russell and midfielder Keishon Bean, the latter twice, while winger T’ysi Showers’s volley from outside the box soared just over the bar.

PHC’s relentless attacks finally received reward when Russell headed on defender Deandre Smith-Lightbourne’s cross, which the unmarked Jenico Sealey slotted home at the back post to earn a deserved lead in the 29th minute.

Things then went from bad to worse for X-Roads ten minutes later when they were reduced to ten men after defender Darin Woolridge picked up a second booking for a foul on Russell.

Bean then had another shot saved by Darrell, while fellow midfielder Jahiem Iris curled a shot just wide of the post as Zebras looked to capitalise on their numerical advantage and they picked up where they left off at the start of the second half to double their lead in the 51st minute.

Sealey whipped in a cross from the left side which Russell flicked on for Bean to head into a practically empty net.

Russell then brought off two more saves from Darrell while Smith-Lightbourne’s ambitious 35-yard screamer sailed just over.

Zebras appeared well on course for a shutout victory but the complexion of the game changed when Thompson broke away from his markers on a counter-attack down the middle and slipped the ball past the onrushing Hunt to give his team a lifeline.

X-Roads brought on fresh legs to bolster their chances of salvaging something from the match but were unable to make further inroads as Zebras put up the shutters to claim the spoils.

SCORERS

X-Roads Warriors: Thompson 84

PHC Zebras: Sealey 29, Bean 51

TEAMS

X-Roads Warriors (4-4-2): Q Darrell 8 - O Williams 6 (sub I Smith, 64min 5), D Woolridge 6, T Daniels 7, A Johnston 7 - C Whited 6 (sub: A Wilson, 64 5), R Beek 7 (sub: T Lowe, 89), J Lottimore 7, A Spencer 7 - C Smith 8, D Thompson 8. Sent off: Woolridge, 39min. Booked: Beek.

PHC Zebras (4-3-3): Q Hunt 8 - D Smith-Lightbourne 8, D Usher 7, J Ebbin 7 (sub: D Lodge, 73 5), K Abraham 7 - D Dowling 7, J Iris 8, K Bean 7 - T Showers 8 (sub: S Nisbett, 86), J Sealey 8 (sub: S Trott, 86), E Russell 7 (sub: R Hassell, 73 5). Substitutes not used: J Symons, M Smith, Y Burgess.

Referee: T Simons.