Devonshire Cougars 0 PHC 2

PHC Zebras proved that they are again the Premier Division side to beat as they racked up their fourth consecutive league win against Devonshire Cougars at Devonshire Rec on Sunday.

Two second-half goals from Haile Eve and D’Andre Wainwright were enough to propel PHC to victory under the lights and leave coach Quincy Hunt delighted with his side’s performance.

“We had a good performance tonight,” Hunt said.

“Last week we didn’t play so well, although we won, so I was hoping for a better game from us and they came through. We are looking to improve game by game, so I am proud of the boys.”

PHC started the match at a fast pace, but it was Cougars that had the first opportunity when Simeon Burrows hit an Elisha Darrell cross over the bar. At the other end Eve flicked a shot towards goal, but Cougars goalkeeper Q’Shai Darrell pulled off a brilliant one-handed save.

Midway through the half, PHC striker D’Andre Wainwright received a pass before turning on a dime and unleashing but his shot missed the upright by inches. Shortly after, Elisha Darrell was put through but PHC captain Daren Usher recovered well to disrupt his shot.

On the stroke of half-time, Cougars’ goalkeeper Darrell again made a good save from a curling Wainwright free kick with Jaylon Bather heading the resulting corner into the ground with the ball bouncing over the crossbar.

The second half featured PHC picking up the tempo and it immediately paid dividends.

An inch-perfect cross from T'syi Showers found Eve alone at the back post and his powerful header beat the outstretched arms of Darrell to open the scoring. PHC should have doubled their lead minutes later but Kadeem Abraham produced a glaring miss when he placed his effort wide with the goal at his mercy.

PHC doubled their lead in the 70th minute when goalkeeper Darrell fumbled a corner and then fouled Wainwright when trying to collect the loose ball. Wainwright brushed himself off to place his spot-kick to the left of the diving Darrell.

Cougars’ prolific goalscorer, Domico Coddington, was kept under lock and key for the most part by PHC centre backs Bather and De-aun Lodge but he did managed to get off a firm drive only for PHC goalkeeper Quinaceo Hunt to make an acrobatic save to push the ball around the post for a corner.

Substitute Keishon Bean was unlucky not to score a third for PHC late in the game when his low strike beat Darrell before bouncing off the upright.

SCORERS

PHC: Eve 48, Wainwright 70 pen

TEAMS

Devonshire Cougars (4-2-3-1): Q Darrell 6 — Zeiko White 6, Zeko White 6, L Millett 6, J Thomas 5 — D Daniels 5, M Thomas 5 — J Fox, S Burrows 6 (sub: M Mills, 70min 4), E Darrell 6 (sub: C Caisey, 56 5) — D Coddington 6. Substitutes not used: L Thomas, C Brangman. Booked: Zeiko White

PHC (4-2-3-1): Q Hunt 6 — D Smith-Lightbourne 5, J Bather 6, D Lodge 6, D Usher 5 (sub: T Bean, 66 5) — J Iris 5, D Smith Davis 5 — T Showers 6 (sub: K Bean, 80), K Abraham 5, H Eve 7 — D Wainwright 7. Substitutes not used: A Wade, J Ebbin, R Simmons, M Wilson, Y Burgess. Booked: Bather, Lodge, Abraham, Iris, Bean.

Referee: K Williams (Trinidad & Tobago).