Social Club 0 North Village 1

North Village’s hopes of retaining the Dudley Eve Trophy hang by a thread after finishing second in group B.

The defending champions won their final group match against Social Club at PHC Field last night but it was not enough as they were pipped by group winners Paget Lions for the sole automatic semi-final spot on goal difference.

“We had to win by three goals to go through as the top team in the table so it is unfortunate,” Cal Dill, the Village assistant coach, told The Royal Gazette.

“We missed a lot of chances and two goals were taken away from us. But other than that we just didn’t get the job done.

“I thought we didn’t play too good first half. We made a couple of substitutions in the second half and the game got a little better for us.

“It’s the beginning of the season so there’s work to be done.”

Village’s fate is now out of their own hands as they await the completion of the group stage that will determine the second best team among the three groups who will advance along with the group winners to the semi-final of the competition.

“Paget goes through as the number one team so we can probably go through as the second best team,” Dill added. “We just have to see how it all plays out.”

Paget drew 1-1 with Village and then beat Social Club 3-1 in their two group matches.

Social Club had the better of the early exchanges with striker and former Village player Pierre Smith firing over from an angle inside of the area and midfielder Josh Hardtman striking the post.

Village gradually came to life with winger Amir Dill being denied by Social Club goalkeeper Saki Tuzo after latching onto a loose ball in the box.

The champions looked to have made the breakthrough but their joy was shortlived as Dill’s goal was waved off by the referee assistant’s flag after team-mate Jonte Smith, on as a 35th minute substitute for fellow striker Tiago Correria, was ruled offside.

Smith would suffer the same fate shortly after as frustration began to set in the Village camp.

Social Club also had a goal disallowed right on the halftime whistle after Hardtman handled in the goalmouth.

Village came out swinging at the start of the second half with substitute Jai Bean having an inviting through pass in the area intercepted by Social Club defender Kelvon Butterfield just as he shaped to shoot.

Smith then brought off a brilliant fingertip save from an agile Tuzo who then blocked another effort from the former professional player as Village kept their foot on the gas in search of the breakthrough.

Village coach Kenny Thompson rolled the dice by bringing on Tre Ming with 20 minutes remaining and the gamble paid off as the experienced midfielder had a hand in his team’s winner. Village were awarded a free kick which Ming sent over for a wide open Judah Chapman to lash home from just outside of the box.

Despite suffering a second straight defeat, Social Club coach Michael Smith said there were positives to take away from his team’s effort.

“It was definitely an improvement from the first game,” he said. “We started off real slow in the first game and we didn’t do that today, which was good.

“I feel like if we take one or two of those opportunities in the first half I think it would have been a different game.

“It took awhile for Village to settle down and I feel like we didn’t capitalise. Hit the post, a couple of deflections.

“Not the result I am looking for. But I am far from disappointed.”

Also clinching their spot in the semi-final was newly promoted Devonshire Colts after coming away with a 3-1 win over St George’s Colts in the second game of a double header at PHC Field last night.

Striker Chermal Henry led the charge for the winning team with a hat-trick while Ne-Jai Tucker replied for St George’s.

Ray Jones’s team topped group C on goal difference over rivals St George’s and Devonshire Cougars for the sole automatic semi-final spot on offer.