Young Men’s Social Club 1 Paget Lions 3

Paget Lions will be playing to win the Dudley Eve Trophy for the first time in their history next month after coming from behind to beat Young Men’s Social Club in the semi-final at PHC Field on Wednesday night.

Two goals from Shakir Smith and a strike from Delray Rawlins gave Antwan Russell’s side victory, with the coach hoping the win will be a boost for the local community.

“We are here to try and win it,” Russell said.

“Paget have never played in the final on a holiday in the Premier Division. This is new for the neighbourhood, and we will be out to win it for our community.”

The game came to life as early as the second minute when Paget goalkeeper Omar DeShields misread Jesse James-Seymour’s angled shot, which rifled into the back of the net at the near post to give Social Club the early lead.

Paget responded well to the early setback with Kushae Hypolite getting off a firm drive but Social Club goalkeeper Saki Tuzo was in good position to cradle the attempt. Just before the half-hour mark Malique Wilson had the chance to double Social Club’s lead when he dribbled to create space but his shot was saved by DeShields.

As half-time loomed, Social Club captain Ryan Harris came close to scoring with his dipping free kick bringing a diving save from DeShields, who smothered the shot.

Paget made three changes at the break as Jade Morrissey replaced DeShields in goal, while attack-minded players Dion Stovell and Kamau Leverock added renewed vigour when joining burly striker Rawlins.

Social Club did not help their cause in defending the one-goal advantage when striker Pierre Smith received his marching orders for a second yellow card in the 54th minute. Shortly after, Stovell let his intentions be known as he forced Tuzo to make an acrobatic save to push his dipping free kick out of the corner of the net as the Lions roared in search of a goal.

Social Club did their best to hold out despite being one man down but the equaliser would come in the 70th minute when Smith pounced on a weak clearance to head beyond Tuzo.

Just a minute later Social Club were reduced to nine men when Jaki-da Richardson received his marching orders after receiving his second yellow card.

It was no surprise that Paget started to dominate play and they capitalised on their two-man advantage in the 79th minute when Smith produced a sneaky flick at the near post from captain Diaje Hart’s corner.

With momentum in their favour, a third goal came from the last touch of Delray Rawlins, who closed out the scoring when he beat the offside trip from a Nelson Carpenter cross to slot beyond the advancing Tuzo before he was substituted prior to the restart.

Scorers:

Young Men’s Social Club: James-Seymour 2

Paget: Smith 70, 79, Rawlins 81

TEAMS

Young Men’s Social Club (4-2-3-1): S Tuzo 6 — K Smith 6, J Richardson 5, K Butterfield 6, T Tucker 6 — J Johnson 6, R Parris 6 — M Wilson 6 (sub: J Mallory, 61 min 5), G Butterfield 6, J James Seymour 6 — P Smith 5. Substitutes not used: T Butterfield, R Evans, M Johnson, A Matthews, B Swan, C Woolridge. Booked: Parris, P Smith, James-Seymour, Richardson. Sent off: P Smith, Richardson.

Paget (4-2-3-1): O DeShields 5 (sub: J Morrissey, 46 6) — S Smith 8 (sub: O Tucker, 85), J Carpenter 6, R DeShields 6, K Durrant 5 (sub: D Stovell, 46 7) — D Joell 5 (K Leverock, 46 6), T Davis 6 — K Hypolite 5, D Hart 6, N Carpenter 6 — D Rawlins 6. Substitutes not used: A Grant. Booked: Rawlins, Davis, Stovell.

Referee: A Majors