Hamilton Parish 3 Young Men’s Social Club 2

Young Men’s Social Club will compete in the Premier Division next season despite throwing away a two-goal lead in their crucial final game.

Social Club needed just a point going into their last match against Parish but it looked like they would end the season in style after goals from David Jones Jr and Josh Hardtman gave them a 2-0 lead at half-time.

However, three unanswered goals from Parish in the second half left Social Club sweating on the result from Bernard Park, where a Somerset Trojans victory over North Village would consign them to relegation.

Trojans entered the 90th minute with a 2-1 win beckoning but conceded twice in additional time to ensure Social Club retained their Premier Division status, to the delight of relieved coach Mikey Smith.

“Today was rough and nerve-racking”, Smith said

“We had the game in our hands and then gave it away and I am just glad the other result went in our favour.

“We showed that we can compete with wins over PHC and Cougars and then leading 2-0 here. We have the pedigree but now we just need to piece it together so hopefully we can get it right for next season.”

Knowing that a draw would be sufficient, Social Club started with intent and took a deserved lead when their high pressure forced defender Kyle Wade and goalkeeper Nigel Burgess into a misunderstanding, which allowed David Jones Jr to get in a toe-poke which squeezed in at the near post.

Parish should have scored from the restart as Jutorre Burgess was played through down the centre but Social Club goalkeeper Ryan Evans was well positioned to palm his effort away.

Social Club had an opportunity for a second when a free kick deflected off the wall to Malique Wilson, whose cross found Jinairo Johnson unmarked at the back post but he would slice his effort wide with the goal at his mercy.

Social Club’s persistence paid off on the half-hour mark when a cross from the left took an awkward bounce past defender Quinn Outerbridge and Josh Hardtman produced a cheeky back-heel, which wrong-footed Burgess and found the bottom corner.

Parish’s best effort of the half came when captain Mauriq Hill sent in a diagonal cross for Justin Bell to hit a firm drive, which brought a diving save from Evans who injured himself in the process as the half closed.

The momentum shifted early in the second half but only after a wind-aided cross eluded Social Club’s Johnson, who appeared to have a tap-in to make it 3-0. That miss would prove costly in terms of the game if not the season as Parish scored from the resulting goal kick. Aaron Nelson was played through the middle to blast his shot high into the roof of the net beyond Evans to reduce the deficit to one.

Parish got some luck for the equaliser when Kion Knights pressured Social Club centre-half Kelvon Butterfield, whose attempted clearance hit the attacker flush on the chest and bounced into the net past a stranded Evans.

Moments later, Parish would complete the comeback with Nelson snaking his way past two defenders before slipping a pass to Gianni Burgess, who beat Evans with a low drive into the far corner.

As time ticked down Social Club’s frustration soon turned into smiles as news circulated around the pitch that their nearest rivals Somerset Trojans had also lost.

Scorers:

Hamilton Parish: A Nelson 55, K Knights 63, G Burgess 67

Young Men’s Social Club: D Jones 12, J Hardtman 30

Teams

Hamilton Parish (4-2-3-1): N Burgess 6 — K Knights 7, M Hill 7, Q Outerbridge 6, K Wade 5 — S Valasse-Paul 5, A Nelson 7, —- J Burgess 6, J Bell 7, A Peets 5 (sub: K Trott, 79min) — G Burgess 7. Substitutes not used: P Burgess, C Smith. Booked: J Burgess.

Young Men’s Social Club (4-2-3-1): R Evans 6 — T Butterfield 6, C Woolridge 6, Kelvon Butterfield 6, B Swan 6— R Parris 7, G Butterfield 5 (sub: J Richardson 62, 5) — J Johnson 6. D Jones 7, M Wilson 6 — Josh Hardtman 7 (sub: S Tuzo 62, 5). Substitutes not used: Keshun Butterfield, K Rawlings, K Smith, Casey Hardtman. Booked: Parris, Richardson.

Referee: C Hinds (Trinidad)