The much anticipated showdown between St George’s and Devonshire Colts lived up to its billing with an exciting seven-goal thriller at Wellington Oval.

In the end, it was St George’s Colts who claimed bragging rights, emerging victorious with a 4-3 win thanks to a hat-trick from captain Kashe Hall, with the other goal scored by his brother, Blaiz Hall.

Devonshire Colts played until the end, scoring their third goal in early added time to set up a frantic finale that kept spectators on the edge of their seats.

The visitors had the brighter start and dominated the opening period, with Jaquari Paynter making several overlapping runs but failing to deliver the final touch. His team-mate Chemari Henry came close after dribbling inside and forcing St George’s goalkeeper Jahquil Hill into a foot save at the near post.

The home side eventually settled and began to string passes together, utilising the spacious Wellington Oval pitch. This approach paid dividends as Blaiz Hall broke into space but was brought down from behind, resulting in a penalty. Kashe Hall calmly converted, sending Devonshire goalkeeper Jaden Mills-Furbert the wrong way with a shot off the upright.

Minutes later, St George’s doubled their lead. Ne-Jai Tucker floated a precise free kick over the defence, finding Kashe, who controlled and calmly slotted past the stranded Mills-Furbert.

Ray Jones’s team continued to press and found their opening through a high press that won back possession. Henry drew the goalkeeper to the near post before squaring for an unmarked Keino Burch, who tapped in to reduce the deficit.

However, St George’s restored their two-goal lead just before half-time. Tucker and Blaiz Hall combined with a series of passes before Tucker released Blaiz, who drove a low shot into the bottom corner past Mills-Furbert.

Shortly after the restart, Hill nearly gifted Devonshire a goal with a poor clearance that was intercepted and played to Burch, whose firm strike beat Hill. However, Oyinde Bascome made a desperate lunging clearance, sending the ball off the upright. To compound Devonshire’s frustration, St George’s countered, squaring the ball for Kashe to finish from close range and complete his hat-trick.

With a comfortable three-goal cushion, St George’s became complacent, allowing the youthful Devonshire side to raise the tempo. Substitute Jori Dublin reduced the deficit with a powerful header from a Paynter corner. Henry then capitalised on a partial clearance from another Paynter delivery, hitting a bouncing shot through a crowd of players to nestle into the bottom corner and bring the score to 4-3.

Jones urged his players forward in search of an equaliser, even pushing goalkeeper Mills-Furbert into a sweeper role, but the comeback fell short as referee Martin Wyer blew the final whistle.

“This was a tight game right up until the end,” said a relieved St George’s coach Drewonde Bascome. “We got a little complacent after we had the three-goal advantage, but they never gave up. They smelt blood and just kept coming at us. In the end, we held on to secure the points, but it was definitely a lesson learnt. Kashe, Blaiz, and Ne-Jai played really well today.”

Bascome also acknowledged the contribution of his mentor: “I wish to thank my father [Andrew] for coming out to assist me today. His presence was instrumental to the players and myself.”

SCORERS

St George’s Colts 4

K Hall 17, 22, 49, B Hall 44

Devonshire Colts 3

Burch 32, Dublin 83, Henry 90+1

TEAMS

St George’s Colts (4-2-3-1): J Hill 6 — A Simons 6 (sub: Z McGaire, 75), O Bascome 7, J Schroders 6, N Paynter 5 (sub: I Gibbons, 62 5) — K Minors 5, Q Maynard 5 — N Tucker 7 (sub: T Tucker, 80) , K Hall 8, B Hall 8 (sub: M Simmons, 80) — S Mitchell 5 (sub: J Dickinson, 74). Substitutes not used: C Neal, D Lodge. Booked: K Hall, Maynard, Bascome, Simmons.

Devonshire Colts (4-2-3-1): J Mills-Furbert 6 — D David 5, S Burgess 5, J Burgess 5 (sub: J Salaam, 85), J Paynter 7 — D Ball 5 (sub: J Dublin, 58 7), M Selassie 5 — B O’Connor 5 (sub: S Burchall, 74), T Eve 6, K Burch 7 — C Henry 7. Substitutes not used: C Berkeley, S Blair Paynter, J Saunders. Booked: J Burgess, S Burgess.

Referee: M Wyer.