PHC 0 St George’s 2

A determined St George’s Colts outfit played their hearts out to defeat 11-times FA Cup winners PHC Zebras in an entertaining quarter-final played at PHC Field yesterday.

The result ended any PHC hopes of a Triple Crown after they had already won the Friendship Trophy and hold a one-point lead over North Village in the Premier Division

St George’s central defender Philip Anderson did a splendid job in marking PHC’s prolific goalscorer Enrique Russell and when he did breach the defence, goalkeeper Jahquil Hill sprang to the rescue with some acrobatic saves to keep his team in the game and give them the opportunity to win in extra time.

PHC dominated the opening minutes of the game with their usual attacking brand of football forcing Hill into action as early as the fourth minute when Keishon Bean’s free kick rebounded off the wall to T’ysi Showers but the goalkeeper did well to hold on to his firm drive.

Within minutes PHC goalkeeper Quinaceo Hunt sent a long kick forward to Russell but Hill was equal to the challenge as he made back-to-back, point-blank saves to block the attempted lob and Showers’s rebound before the latter hit the third attempt into the side netting.

Just before half-time St George’s had their most threatening effort to score when Blaiz Hall was put through, forcing Hunt to rush off his line to block his attempted lob.

PHC continued to apply pressure after the restart and thought they had scored when a long throw-in found its way to Russell at the back post but his snap shot effort found an alert Hill, who pulled off an incredible reflex save to push the ball against the crossbar.

PHC threatened again when substitute Jayden Ebbin darted down the right flank to pull back for another substitute, Ryan Hassell, but his shot was smothered by a diving Hill.

In the 94th minute, Jaylon Bather brought the PHC fans and bench into a false celebration as his header at the back post looked destined for the back of the net before being cleared to safety with the assistant referee deeming the whole ball did not cross the line.

Although playing second fiddle for most of the match, St George’s never gave up and it would be man-of-the match Hill who would be instrumental in setting up the opening goal in extra time when his long kick forward was flicked on by substitute Drewonde Bascome for Hall to chase. In his haste to clear, the ball would slice off defender Diondre Dowling’s boot to beat his own goalkeeper.

Bascome would then put the game to rest with a bit of individual brilliance. After controlling Hall’s pass, he coolly lobbed two onrushing defenders in quick succession before planting a firm drive beyond the stranded Hunt to send the travelling fans into wild celebrations and his team into the next round.

SCORERS

St George’s: Dowling og 107, D Bascome 118

TEAMS

PHC Zebras (4-1–4-1): Q Hunt 6 — D Usher 6, D Dowling 6, J Bather 6, D Smith-Lightbourne 6 — K Abraham 5 — T Showers 6 (sub: J Ebbin, 86min 6), K Bean 6, J Iris 6 (sub: R Hassell, 108), J Sealy 7— E Russell 7. Substitutes not used: W Trott, R Simmons, J Belboda-Raveneau, S Nisbett, M Smith. Booked: Iris, Showers, Smith-Lightburne, Bean, Abraham, Quincy Hunt (coach).

St George’s Colts (4-2-3-1): J Hill 9 — N Paynter 6, T Burgess 6, P Anderson 6, A Simons 6 (sub: A Cannonier, 85 6) — J Salaam 7, C Minors 6 (sub: D Bascome, 94 8) (sub: J Smith, 119) — B Hall 7, K Hall 6, M Paynter 6 (sub: R King, 94 5) — P Simons 6. Substitutes not used: O Bascome, J Daniels, G Wade, D Lodge. Booked: Burgess, Minors, D Bascome.

Referee: T Derry (Trinidad & Tobago)