PHC 1 Hamilton Parish 0

D’Andre Wainwright scored the only goal as PHC secured a scrappy victory over Hamilton Parish on Sunday to maintain their unblemished record in the Premier Division this season.

Before the game both clubs paid tribute to fallen Bermuda football legend Leroy “Nibs” Lewis, who donned both the black and white of Zebras and the maroon of Peppers in an illustrious career as a player and coach.

Family and friends of Lewis were presented with a framed Zebras jersey as a token of gratitude to the footballing icon who passed away this month, while a moment of silence was also observed before kick-off.

Zebras got off to a bright start, knocking the ball around confidently and constantly probing, but their tempo was far too slow and they failed to vary their attacking patterns, which allowed Parish to get numbers behind the ball and largely stop the supply line into striker Wainwright.

Parish, with their solid shape, were able to find space in behind PHC on the counter-attack and nearly opened the scoring inside ten minutes, but Justin Bell's pass inside was cut out just in time by Zebras captain Daren Usher.

Swirling wind over PHC Field made it difficult for both teams to switch the play with wingers needing to cover a lot of ground to get involved. That also meant both sides had to pass through a congested midfield, and the East Enders were far more assertive in possession.

Parish worked the ball well to Nasje Brockington, who hit a powerful strike towards goal, but Zebras keeper Quinaceo Hunt made the most spectacular of numerous saves on the day.

Midway through the first half, Parish stand-in keeper Jordan Burgess made a terrible blunder when attempting to control a back-pass by defender Kyle Wade, and Showers pounced on the loose ball, drove into space and squared for Wainwright to tap home to give Zebras the lead against the run of play.

Both teams remained indecisive and wasteful in the final third, although substitute Macquille Walker almost made an instant impact with his physical presence adding another string to the Parish attack.

He tested Hunt from about 20 yards out within five minutes of the second half, and Brockington galloped on to the rebound and hit a powerful effort but could only watch it squeeze wide.

Substitute Jayden Ebbin made a solid impact off the bench as he composed the Zebras midfield in a period when both sides went on the attack.

During this period, however, former Parish captain Shane Hollis easily sprinted through PHC’s midfield lines and watched his low strike go just wide of Hunt's far post, although the Bermuda international had it covered.

SCORERS

PHC: Wainwright 21

TEAMS

PHC Zebras (4-2-3-1): Q Hunt 7 – D Usher 6, J Bather 5, D Lodge 5, D Smith-Lightbourne 6 – J Iris 6, K Abraham 5 – H Eve 4, K Bean 5 (sub: K Ebbin, 64min 5), T Showers 5 (sub: D Smith-Davis, 64 5) – D Wainwright 5 (sub: A Wade, 78). Substitutes not used: M Wilson, R Simmons, Y Burgess, T Bean. Booked: K Bean

Hamilton Parish (4-2-3-1): J Burgess 4 – K Wade 5, Q Outerbridge 6, Z Burgess 5, M Hill 6 – N Brockington 5, A Nelson 6 – G Burgess 4 (sub: S Hollis, 46 6), J Bell 5, L Lewis 5 – C Binnie 4 (sub: M Walker, 46 6). Substitutes not used: K Knights, K Trott. Booked: Bell, Lewis

Referee: S Wilkinson (St Kitts & Nevis)