Young Men’s Social Club 0 Paget 3

Diaje Hart showed composure from the spot with two early penalties to lead Paget Lions to a comfortable victory over Social Club at Police Field on Saturday.

Paget took control of the match early and found their opening goal thanks to the intelligence of midfield pairing Padraic Castle and Senoj Mitchell, who had the upper hand in a physical battle for most of the first half.

Mitchell fed Kamali Davis on the right flank and his skill and quick feet teased Kimshun Smith on numerous occasions before Smith finally made a mistake in the area and referee Jamar Springer pointed to the spot.

Hart stepped up and smashed the spot-kick past goalkeeper Saki Tuzo.

The second goal was largely crafted by brilliant communication and timing between the attacking midfield trio of Hart, Davis and Kushae Hypolite, with the latter finding the captain in space before he teased Brighton Swan into a lunging challenge just inside the box.

This time Hart sent Tuzo the wrong way, curling into the bottom right corner to put Lions two ahead.

Paget lost their composure for the final fifteen minutes of the first half, with Social Club growing into the game.

David Jones Jr hit the post after being fed through by Malique Wilson but despite Social Club’s attacking intent and front-foot approach, Paget held the two-goal cushion into half-time.

Social Club continued to apply pressure to their visitors in the early stages of the second half, but their lack of communication and decisive edge in the final third meant they could not find a way through the stubborn and well-organised Paget defence.

Instead, Hart could have punished them once again, this time almost turning provider for Kamali Davis, who failed to adjust to the pace of his captain’s low cross when tamely striking straight into the grateful arms of Tuzo.

There was a physical altercation on the right flank of Paget’s attacking third midway through the second half, with the aggressor Renaldo Clacken and his victim, Padraic Castle, both booked after Castle barged Clacken over when taken down by a late sliding challenge.

Jinairo Johnson had a really dangerous opportunity in the final 15 minutes to set up a grandstand finish, but he failed to direct his powerful effort on target after Josh Hardtman found him running in from the edge of the box.

The final five minutes featured end-to-end action with both sides going for a goal and in the second minute of stoppage time, Paget’s counter-attack worked perfectly with Hart finding Shakir Smith, who showed immense poise to feed Omari Tucker, who finished low past Tuzo to complete the victory and all but confirm Paget’s participation in the Premier Division next campaign.

SCORERS

Paget: Hart 9 pen, 16 pen; Tucker 90+2

TEAMS

Social Club (4-2-3-1): S Tuzo 6 – J Richardson 5, K Smith 5, C Woolridge 5 (sub: Kelvon Butterfield, 46min 5), B Swan 5 – R Parris 6, J Johnson 6 – M Wilson 5 (sub: R Clacken, 60 5), G Butterfield 5 (sub: Keshun Butterfield, 83), D Jones Jr 6 – J Hardtman 5. Substitutes not used: M Williams, J Smith, C Hardtman. Booked: G Butterfield, Clacken, T Lewis (coach)

Paget Lions (4-2-3-1): T Hall 6 – S Smith 6, J Carpenter 6, R Deshields 7, K Simons 6 – P Castle 6, S Mitchell 5 (sub: D Joell, 50 5) – K Davis 6 (sub: K Durrant, 80), D Hart 8, K Hypolite 7 (sub: D Frost, 74) – O Tucker 6. Substitutes not used: A Russell, M Wade, A Grant, J Tucker. Booked: Castle

Referee: J Springer (Barbados)