St George’s Colts 3 X-Roads 0

St George’s Colts ended a frustrating run of results by securing maximum points against the Premier Division’s bottom side X-Roads at Wellington Oval yesterday.

Before this victory Jarreau Hayward’s side had last picked up three points on October 28, when they triumphed 3-1 over Somerset Trojans, with their only other victory coming in the reverse fixture with X-Roads, which they won 2-1.

But this win never looked in doubt with Blaiz Hall striking twice and Oyinde Bascome’s superb goal giving them their third win of the season and easing any lingering relegation fears.

Hall, 22, a member of Bermuda’s under-23 side at the Island Games in Guernsey last year, has now scored four league goals since his return from back surgery and is keen to play his part as St George’s push for a spot in the top four with his side also still in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.

“It feels good to be back playing with my team again and having fun,’’ Hall told The Royal Gazette.

“I've played five games now, scored four goals and provided a couple of assists. I'm still not 100 per cent fit, I still have to do my extras and get back in the gym.

“I'm just trying to get as many goals as possible and finish top four for the season. Hopefully, we can win the FA Cup as that’s the only trophy left to compete for.”

Despite the win, Hayward feels there is still more improvement to come from his side.

“It’s been a difficult season for us but we’re starting to get healthy and starting to heat up,’’ Hayward said.

“The shutout is the most important thing and the three points obviously, but it’s good to get some goals as well.

“I thought it was a pretty complete game, we still have lot to go as far as improving is concerned, but today was really encouraging and a step in the right direction.

“The most important thing was that we stayed tenacious and kept going. We’ll continue to improve in front of goal and in both boxes.

“We’re definitely putting in the hard work and the spirit of the team is awesome. It’s just a matter of taking it one step at a time, not getting too far ahead of ourselves, remain humble and the results will take care of themselves.”

Ralph Bean Jr, the X-Roads coach, blamed the loss on his players switching off at the start of the second half. The Warriors remain rooted to the bottom of the table with five points and just six matches left.

“I think we got it right in the first half and then we had this lapse in the first five, ten minutes of the second half,’’ Bean said.

“We conceded two goals in that period and it was an uphill battle from there. I don’t think we really recovered from that.

“We still have 18 points to play for, we just have to keep playing and put our best foot forward.

“X-Roads is a fighting team. Regardless of what the outcomes will be moving forward, we can expect it to continue to fight.”

St George’s dominated from the start and it was only some wasteful finishing that allowed X-Roads to go in all square at half-time.

But they did not have to wait too long in the second half to break the deadlock when Bascome opened the scoring with a spectacular finish in the 48th minute with his magnificent left-foot strike giving goalkeeper Q’Shai Darrell no chance.

Hall doubled the lead in the 53rd minute after Kurtis Minors did well to win the ball inside the box and the rout was completed a minute into added time when Hall was allowed space to take a shot that trickled over the line after Darrell had got his hands to the ball.

SCORERS

St George’s Colts: O Bascome 48, B Hall 53, 90+1

TEAMS

St George’s Colts (4-2-3-1): J Hill 6 – A Cannonier 6, P Anderson 7, A Simons 6, N Paynter 6 – K Minors 7, J Salaam 7 (sub: D Bascome, 90min), – K Hall 7, B Hall 8, J Daniels 6 (sub: C Neal, 83) – O Bascome 7 (sub: P Simons, 73). Substitutes not used: E Signor, C Burns, G Wade, R Phipps. Booked: B Hall

X-Roads (4-4-2): Q Darrell 5 – A Matthews 5, A Cajee 5, T Daniels 5 (sub: C Whited 62, 5), O Williams 5 (sub: J Smith 32, 5) – K Richardson 5, R Beek 5, A Johnston 5, T Lowe 5 – T Whited 6, D Thompson 6. Substitutes not used: S Somner. Booked: Cajee

Referee: D Jackson.